The Moral Status of Business Bluffing
M MUKHWANE
21357684
WVES 221
The moral status of business bluffing is a controversial issue. On the one hand, bluffing would seem to be relevantly similar to lying and deception. Because of this, business bluffing can be taken to be an activity that is at least prima facie morally condemnable. On the other hand, it has often been claimed that in business bluffing is part of the game and that therefore there is nothing morally questionable in business bluffing (Allhoff,2006). An attitude of extreme arrogance permeates the business world today. In the wake of the post-modern discretion of most independent standards of moral behaviour, capitalists the world over are relatively free to worship at the hollow idol of the Market, unhindered by the ethical standards that inform the rest of society. In South Africa this estrangement from the moral has, in one instance, resulted in the mass reduction of permanent positions available to workers in favour of unstable short-term contracts or, what anti-corporate globalisation activists refer to as, McJobs. By ignoring the deep psychological effects that this sort of insecure existence has on employees, the business world has shown itself to be arrogant and indifferent to the ethical standards of the society "outside" of itself. It is often argued whether business bluffing is ethical or not.
Defining business bluffing
According to Encarta World English Dictionary bluffing means to deceive, mislead, or instill fear or doubt in somebody by a false show of strength or confidence and business means commercial activity involving the exchange of money for goods or services. Having to incorporate the two definitions one can define business bluffing as misleading within the boundaries of business. The moral status of business bluffing is a controversial issue. On the one hand, bluffing would seem to be relevantly similar to lying and deception. Because of this, business bluffing can be taken to be an activity that is at least
21357684
WVES 221
The moral status of business bluffing is a controversial issue. On the one hand, bluffing would seem to be relevantly similar to lying and deception. Because of this, business bluffing can be taken to be an activity that is at least prima facie morally condemnable. On the other hand, it has often been claimed that in business bluffing is part of the game and that therefore there is nothing morally questionable in business bluffing (Allhoff,2006). An attitude of extreme arrogance permeates the business world today. In the wake of the post-modern discretion of most independent standards of moral behaviour, capitalists the world over are relatively free to worship at the hollow idol of the Market, unhindered by the ethical standards that inform the rest of society. In South Africa this estrangement from the moral has, in one instance, resulted in the mass reduction of permanent positions available to workers in favour of unstable short-term contracts or, what anti-corporate globalisation activists refer to as, McJobs. By ignoring the deep psychological effects that this sort of insecure existence has on employees, the business world has shown itself to be arrogant and indifferent to the ethical standards of the society "outside" of itself. It is often argued whether business bluffing is ethical or not.
Defining business bluffing
According to Encarta World English Dictionary bluffing means to deceive, mislead, or instill fear or doubt in somebody by a false show of strength or confidence and business means commercial activity involving the exchange of money for goods or services. Having to incorporate the two definitions one can define business bluffing as misleading within the boundaries of business. The moral status of business bluffing is a controversial issue. On the one hand, bluffing would seem to be relevantly similar to lying and deception. Because of this, business bluffing can be taken to be an activity that is at least
Bibliography: Carr, A.Z. 1968. "Is Business Bluffing Ethical?" Harvard Business Review, Jan. /Feb.: 143 –153. Allhoff, F. 2006. Journal of Business Ethics, Volume 65, Number 2, May 2006, pp. 163-171(9) Gordon, L.R. 1995. Bad Faith and Anti-Black Racism. New Jersey: Humanities Press. Allhoff, F. 2003. Business bluffing reconsidered. Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.45, Iss. 4; July 2003, pg. 283-289 Bluffing. Retrieved September 14, 2010, Microsoft Encarta World Dictionary [World English Edition] 2010 from http:/encarta.msn.con/dictionary186181654/bluffing.html