A Kantian Approach To Business Ethics
Ebin Thomas sunny
Student ID: 717537
MANA6320-01
A Kantian Approach to Business Ethics
The writer here talks about a man named Kant who lived in the 18th Century and is best known for defending a version of the “respect for persons” principle which implies that any business practice that puts money on a par with people is immoral or unethical. Kant argued that the highest good was the goodwill. To act from a good will is to act from duty. Thus it is the intention behind an action rather than its consequences that makes that action good. The article goes on to focus on some of the implications of Kant’s three formulations of the fundamentals of ethics. Kant’s first formulation was that he believed every action has a maxim, we are to ask what would happen if the principle (maxim) of the action were a universal law. Would a world where everyone acted on that principle be possible? Kant uses an example where he focuses on the concept of lying promises, when adopted as a principle by everyone it is incoherent. The second formulation he focused on was to treat humanity in a person as an end and not for means merely and lastly he believes that organizations are composed of persons and given the nature of persons, organizational structures must treat the humanity in persons with dignity and respect. Kantian ethics sure had limitations, Kant had nothing to say about environmental ethics , lack of understanding on animal suffering and the biggest challenge Kantian ethics being too demanding yet kants moral philosophy has rich implications for business practice.
Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach to Business Ethics
Aristotle is a philosopher who is best known for the emphasis on the cultivation of virtues(excellence). He had so much to say about the ethics of exchange and so the author goes on to call him the first (known) business ethicist. Aristotle distinguished two different senses of economics one of them called ‘oceinomicus” or household
Student ID: 717537
MANA6320-01
A Kantian Approach to Business Ethics
The writer here talks about a man named Kant who lived in the 18th Century and is best known for defending a version of the “respect for persons” principle which implies that any business practice that puts money on a par with people is immoral or unethical. Kant argued that the highest good was the goodwill. To act from a good will is to act from duty. Thus it is the intention behind an action rather than its consequences that makes that action good. The article goes on to focus on some of the implications of Kant’s three formulations of the fundamentals of ethics. Kant’s first formulation was that he believed every action has a maxim, we are to ask what would happen if the principle (maxim) of the action were a universal law. Would a world where everyone acted on that principle be possible? Kant uses an example where he focuses on the concept of lying promises, when adopted as a principle by everyone it is incoherent. The second formulation he focused on was to treat humanity in a person as an end and not for means merely and lastly he believes that organizations are composed of persons and given the nature of persons, organizational structures must treat the humanity in persons with dignity and respect. Kantian ethics sure had limitations, Kant had nothing to say about environmental ethics , lack of understanding on animal suffering and the biggest challenge Kantian ethics being too demanding yet kants moral philosophy has rich implications for business practice.
Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach to Business Ethics
Aristotle is a philosopher who is best known for the emphasis on the cultivation of virtues(excellence). He had so much to say about the ethics of exchange and so the author goes on to call him the first (known) business ethicist. Aristotle distinguished two different senses of economics one of them called ‘oceinomicus” or household