Ethical Theories in Business Environment
Ethical Theories in Business Environment
Patriot Rustani
Kaplan University
Ethical Theories in Business Environment The Energy Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing to the community. Our organization is made of 400,000 members as I am a part of the board of directors. One of the directors has asked to address himself as a director of the Energy Corporation to personal potential clients. I have been asked to review this matter. Before giving the rest of the board a review I shall look into the perspectives of philosopher’s theories on ethics.
The first philosopher I will bring up is Immanuel Kant. Kant was one of the most influential philosophers of western philosophy. In Kant’s perspective, the sole feature that gives an action moral value is not the outcome that is attained by the act, but the cause that is behind the action. So in this case if the director is trying to make himself seem important or his actions benefit him more then the company then Kant wouldn’t agree with this decision. His actions should be pure and for the best interest of everyone.
When thinking about this situation we can discuss Practical Imperative. "Act to treat humanity, whether yourself or another, as an end-in-itself and never as a means." (Kant). Individuals or groups of people are not to be used unjustifiably in demand to acquire your goals or pursue an edge or unfair benefits. People have rights that shouldn’t be violated. In other words Kant would ask, “Do my actions respect the goals of human beings rather than just using them for my own purposes?” If not then it’s not prohibited. Simply that using others for ones benefit is wrong. If the action is what is seems to be, then Kant would identify it as Hypothetical Imperative. The goal is not based on pure reason but based on desire. For example if someone wants to confident in a class then they have to study hard. If this director wants to address himself as a
Patriot Rustani
Kaplan University
Ethical Theories in Business Environment The Energy Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing to the community. Our organization is made of 400,000 members as I am a part of the board of directors. One of the directors has asked to address himself as a director of the Energy Corporation to personal potential clients. I have been asked to review this matter. Before giving the rest of the board a review I shall look into the perspectives of philosopher’s theories on ethics.
The first philosopher I will bring up is Immanuel Kant. Kant was one of the most influential philosophers of western philosophy. In Kant’s perspective, the sole feature that gives an action moral value is not the outcome that is attained by the act, but the cause that is behind the action. So in this case if the director is trying to make himself seem important or his actions benefit him more then the company then Kant wouldn’t agree with this decision. His actions should be pure and for the best interest of everyone.
When thinking about this situation we can discuss Practical Imperative. "Act to treat humanity, whether yourself or another, as an end-in-itself and never as a means." (Kant). Individuals or groups of people are not to be used unjustifiably in demand to acquire your goals or pursue an edge or unfair benefits. People have rights that shouldn’t be violated. In other words Kant would ask, “Do my actions respect the goals of human beings rather than just using them for my own purposes?” If not then it’s not prohibited. Simply that using others for ones benefit is wrong. If the action is what is seems to be, then Kant would identify it as Hypothetical Imperative. The goal is not based on pure reason but based on desire. For example if someone wants to confident in a class then they have to study hard. If this director wants to address himself as a
References: . (2014, January 1). . Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/Kantian%20Ethics.htm McCormick, M. (n.d.). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Kant, Immanuel: Metaphysics []. Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/ Kantian Ethics. (n.d.). Kantian Ethics. Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/kant.html John Stuart Mill Ethics. (n.d.). . Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://www.isu.edu/~baerralp/Mill.pdf LAWRENCE KOHLBERG 'S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. (n.d.). . Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%208%20Ethics/Reading-Barger-on-Kohlberg.htm Lawrence Kohlberg On Conscience Quotes. (n.d.). Lawrence Kohlberg On Conscience Quotes. Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Lawrence_Kohlberg_On_Conscience/ John Rawls on Justice. (n.d.). Rawls on Justice. Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/ethics/johnrawl.htm Wenar, L. (2005, December 19). Rights. Stanford University. Retrieved July 1, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rights/#5