Question

read the following case and answer questions.
ben was assigned by his employer to improve an ultrasonic range - finding device. while working on the improvement, he recognized that a novel modification to the equipment might be applicable to military submarines, which, if successful, could be worth a whole lot of money to his employer.
however, ben is a pacifist, a person who opposes war of any kind, and he does not want to be involved in military work. so he did not develop the idea himself or mention it to anybody else in the company. he has signed an agreement that all inventions he produces on the job are the property of the company, but he does not believe that the agreement is relevant to this situation.
question 2 5 pts
which of the following best describes the moral problems that ben is facing?

• should ben fulfill his obligation to share his inventions with his employer or refuse due to his commitment to pacifism?
• should ben ask his colleague what to do?
• should ben quit his job?
• how much should ben gain from his invention?

Explanation:

Ben faces a conflict between his contractual obligation to share work-related inventions with his employer and his personal pacifist beliefs that prevent him from participating in military-related work. The other options do not address this core moral conflict: asking a colleague is a procedural step, quitting is a potential action not the core moral problem, and gaining from the invention is irrelevant to his pacifist concern.

Answer:

Should Ben fulfill his obligation to share his inventions with his employer or refuse due to his commitment to pacifism?