Chapter 1 THE NATURE OF MORALITY

Chapter 1
THE NATURE OF
MORALITY

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

ETHICAL
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Moral
Right
Good
Fair
Just
Proper
Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

INDUSTRIAL OR BUSINESS
ETHICS
• The study of what constitutes moral, right or good conduct in a business context.
• BUSINESS: any for-profit organization

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

MORAL OR ETHICAL
STANDARDS
• Concern behavior that can have serious consequences to human welfare.
• IMMORAL violates moral standards
• NON-MORAL does not concern moral standards, amoral; such as etiquette

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

SOUNDNESS OF MORAL
STANDARDS
• Depends on the adequacy of the reasons which support or justify them.
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Influenced by religion, esp. Golden Rule
Social norms
Laws often form minimum standards
Professional codes of conduct
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ETHICAL RELATIVISM
• What is right in one place or time may be wrong in another.
• Ethical standards solely depend on moral system of the society in which the act/s occur.

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Results
• No moral criticism of society's norms
• Ethical or moral progress meaningless
• People who encourage moral reform are immoral • The minority is immoral until it becomes the majority Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

So,
• Mafia activities are moral within their social group • Business may adopt its own moral code which is not known by general public
• Closely related to Situational Ethics.

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

PARADOX OF HEDONISM
• Hedonism: The doctrine that personal interest, pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief purpose in life.

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

Research suggests
1. People who are chiefly concerned with their own interests tend to have less happy and less satisfying lives.
2. People who primarily seek their own happiness are less happy than those who are concerned about others.

Copyright, J. Humble, 2010

Research suggests (cont.)
3. People often find greater satisfaction in living by a moral code than in living for