In accordance with the study, the best theory which fits the Battling over bottled water case study is the Utilitarianism theory. It is because it advocates for fairness as a pre-requisite for justice. It is because it involving the restricting of other people's rights for the benefit of others. These people whose rights are denied should have abundance in resource hence the process is just to achieve redistribution of income. For example, Nestle company pumping gallons of water per minute from a spring which feeds Michigan water bodies in the pursuit to benefit others so as to allow other states to attain happiness.
According to this theory, happiness is the overarching value. It is a happiness which constitutes what is wrong or right in the contemporary society. According to this theory, injustice is the violation of the rights of some identifiable person. It is what makes the distinction of it from other forms of behavior. In accordance with James Stuart Mill, a right is having a claim on the society to protect one in the possession of that claim. The Utilitarianism thus identifies right as certain moral rules and the observance of which is the utmost importance for the long run maximization of wealth. Besides, for the case of this theory, justice is not an independent standard which is distinct from their general principles, however, it should be inter-dependent. Besides, it also postulates that the optimization of happiness is what determines what is just or unjust. On the other hand, the injustice is always involved violating the rights of some identifiable individuals. However, the utilitarianism does not tell us the economic system will produce the most happiness. The question tends to hand on the economic, social and political facts. In accordance with this theory, the justice is highly tied to the economic distribution to the promotion of the social well-being or happiness. The utilitarian will favor all the economic systems which shall bring or generate happiness for the whole society. In order to achieve the redistribution of resources, there are various conditions which should be taken into consideration. These comprise of the economic ownership, the way production and distribution, in general, is organized, the type of authority arrangement within the unit of production, the range and character of material incentives and the nature and extent of social security as well as welfare provisions. Besides, the theory supports the free trade and the laissez-faire view of the unregulated market and it is competition which aims at a total social good. Therefore, the utilitarian must thus indulge in the examination of the various issues to determine the economic systems and principles will best promote the social well-being or happiness. Most of the workers tend to promote increased worker participation and a more distribution of income which Nestle Company was trying to do as they were trying to improve the equitable distribution of water to the regions where it was not being got. Therefore, the theory tends to seek for the total social wellbeing and they are willing to restrict the liberty of some so as to promote the greater net happiness as oppose of doing so.
In relation to this theory, one of the ethical issues which should be cured by it is the government involvement in pursuit to limit the redistribution of resources to other parts of America. For example, the MCWC's restricting the distribution of water from Michigan to other states and part of America through a lawsuit tend to deny these people the right to get water. The theory will allow the Nestle management to understand that they are not supposed to draw water from the springs to the extent that it brings sadness to the Michigan individuals and at the same time pump water which meets the needs of the people hence making the whole society happy. The theory would have landed the MCWC and the Nestle Company at the second ruling by the appellate court that the company should reduce the amount of water it pumps per minute. Therefore, as the courts and Michigan restrict the company from providing a large volume of water to other states, they are pursuing to make everyone happy.
Reference
Barry V & Shaw W.H (2016) Moral Issues in Business. https://ereader.chegg.com/#/books/9781305545069/cfi/1!/4/4@0.00:0.00
