Ethics - Moral Principles

The term ethics is defined as a system of moral principles. When incorporating ethics with business it is extremely difficult to determine what is considered moral or immoral, as well as what is judged as justice in society. One viewpoint on this topic opposes justice can be compatible with business. The other viewpoint believes there is a line that draws between good and bad; it really depends upon the motive of the action. Is business ethics possible in our present day society? Matigari, a short story written by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, shows it is evident that Ngugi was trying to make it clear that ethics would be impossible in a democratic society. The main character in the story, whose name is Matigari, is continuously searching for truth and justice. “My friends! Can you tell me where a person could find truth and justice in this country?” (Ngugu, 1989) were his exact words when approaching people. The crowds would all look at him as if he were speaking nonsense. Matigari feels as though the democratic world in which he is living was created upside down. “The builder sleeps in the open, the worker is left empty-handed, the tailor goes naked, and the tiller goes to sleep on an empty stomach” (Ngugu, 1989). He wonders where truth and justice lies in this world; for even those who farm are starving. His search leads him to a meeting called by the Minister for Truth and Justice. The real truth can be found within the oppressed. He had built his own home, yet it was still taken away from him; it is a clear example of a capitalist private property. Matigari favours the labour theory of property, which gives labourers the right to own their own land. It is clearly not ethical to take one’s land away in which he or she worked upon. It is evident Matigari believes in the labour theory of property; whereas the government enforces a capitalist private property.
The labour theory of property is a natural law theory that holds that property originally comes about by the

Bibliography: Ngugu wa Thiong’o. (1989). ‘Matigari’ (pp. 69-127) Macmillan Publishing. (1972). ‘The Encyclopedia of Philosophy’ (pp.95-96) Samuels, Warren. (2002) ‘Theory of Property and State.’ Retrieved on March 10, 2009. < http://members.shaw.ca/compilerpress1/Anno%20Samuels%20Property.htm> Lintin, Paul. (1999) ‘God’s Ten Commandments.’ Retrieved on March 10, 2009. < http://keeptencommandments.info/keep/welcome.phtml>