1. The term "business ethics" has been called an oxymoron. Do you
agree? Explain your answer.
The term "business ethics" is called an oxymoron, which means that it
contains two seemingly contradictory elements, namely business and
ethics. Business is often associated with the pursuit of profit,
competition, and market share, while ethics emphasizes respect for
social responsibility and ethical values. Combining these two concepts
creates a phrase that seems to contradict itself.
However, I do not agree with the term "business ethics" as an
oxymoron. In fact, the phrase is more of a portmanteau, combining the
two concepts of business and ethics to emphasize their relevance and
the need to support each other in a business context.
Business ethics does not necessarily mean two contradictory elements,
but more emphasis is placed on following certain ethical and moral
standards in business practice. This does not mean that there is an
irreconcilable conflict between business and ethics, but emphasizes
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that social responsibility and ethical principles should be taken into
account in business activities.
Business and ethics can coexist, and in fact, many successful companies
focus on social responsibility and ethical conduct in their operations.
This shows that business and ethics are not opposites, but can be
mutually reinforcing and enhanced. In today's society, more and more
companies are realizing that following ethical principles can help build
sustainable business models, enhance brand reputation, and attract
more consumers and investors.
For example, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is an approach that
combines investing with ethics and social responsibility. Investors
choose to back companies that perform well on environmental, social
and governance, rather than just focusing on their financial
performance. This investment approach embodies the fusion of
business and ethics, aiming to create long-term economic value while
considering social and environmental impacts.
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For example, The Body Shop, The Body Shop is a beauty and cosmetics
company. The company emphasizes the protection of animals, the use
of natural and sustainable ingredients, and the support of social and
environmental projects. Its commitment to fair trade and no animal
testing demonstrates its ethical orientation.
Then there's IKEA, which is a Swedish household goods retail company.
IKEA promotes sustainability and reduces its environmental impact by
using renewable energy, promoting a circular economy and focusing on
forest conservation. The company also focuses on social responsibility
in the supply chain, such as ensuring labor conditions for suppliers.
And then there's Starbucks, which is a global coffee chain. Starbucks
demonstrates its social responsibility by promoting sustainable coffee
farming, reducing its environmental footprint, and supporting farmer
communities. In addition, the company is committed to promoting
employee well-being and diversity.
These examples show that business and ethics are not mutually
exclusive, but can be balanced and integrated through a range of
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measures. Therefore, business ethics should be viewed more as a
concept of coordination and integration rather than an oxymoron,
emphasizing the need to integrate economic and ethical considerations
in business decisions.
2. Ethics has been defined as "finding the best reasons to act and
behave in the best possible way." It means elevating ourselves to a
higher level of rationality and consequently, transcending
considerations that are merely instinctual, material or sensual.
Comment on this idea.
Ethics is defined as "finding the best reasons to act in the best way." It
means elevating ourselves to a higher level of reason, and thus beyond
mere instinctive, material, or sentimental considerations.
This concept emphasizes the importance of rational decision-making,
requiring people to take a conscious effort on moral issues, not just to
conform to social norms or satisfy immediate impulses. It calls for
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individuals to actively seek the most reasonable and morally correct
way of behaving.
For example, consider a situation in which a manager needs to make a
decision about layoffs. The choice to improve morally will involve a
thorough analysis of the consequences for affected individuals,
companies, and the wider community. This goes beyond a simple focus
on financial gain or short-term gain, with an emphasis on finding the
best reasons for all stakeholders to act in the best way.
Moreover, at the individual level, the concept encourages the individual
to pursue the continuous improvement of moral reasoning. For
example, faced with the opportunity to spread harmful rumors about
colleagues, by committing to moral uplift, individuals can reflect on the
consequences of such actions and choose a path consistent with higher
moral principles, such as honesty and empathy.
Here are some examples of brands that demonstrate the pursuit of a
higher level of rationality through thoughtful decision-making and
ethical drive: 1. Patagonia is an outdoor clothing brand that focuses on
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environmental protection and sustainability. They are committed to
finding the best reasons and acting in the best way by promoting
environmental initiatives and sustainable operations. The company is
committed to protecting the natural environment through a number of
measures, such as promoting a circular economy, donating profits to
environmental causes, and encouraging consumers to shop less and
reduce their environmental impact.
2. Tesla is a company focused on electric vehicles and renewable
energy. Their business decisions are designed to promote clean energy
and sustainable transportation. Tesla's goal is to reduce its dependence
on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. By providing energy
efficient solutions, they seek to impact society in the best possible way
and provide a more sustainable mode of transport for the future.
Overall, the concept encompasses a holistic understanding of morality,
emphasizing the importance of reason, the pursuit of the best ethical
decisions, and the continuous advancement of individual moral
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reasoning. It challenges individuals to go beyond basic instincts and
material considerations to pursue a deeper understanding of the best
way to act for the best reasons.
3. We often have an idea of what the right thing to do is whenever we
are confronted by a dilemma. However, it seems that doing the right
thing seems difficult. Explain why this is so and offer considerations to
guide moral agents in navigating their way through their dilemmas.
In the face of moral dilemmas, the correct moral code is usually clear,
but actual action can be constrained by complex factors. Reasons for
this gap include moral conflicts, emotional influences, sociocultural
factors, stages of moral development, and considerations of
consequences and responsibilities. Moral decisions often involve
weighing the relationship between different values, emotions and
reason, and are influenced by social and cultural contexts.
A decision may bring benefits in the short term, but may lead to
adverse consequences in the long term. In moral dilemmas, you need to
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consider the consequences of your actions and be accountable for your
responsibilities.
For example, suppose a company's top management discovers that the
company has an environmental pollution problem. Morally, they may
believe that something must be done to reduce environmental impact.
However, practical implementation involves complex factors such as the
economic situation of the company, the livelihood of employees and
the interests of shareholders, making it a difficult task to strike a
balance between ethics and business.
For example, consider a company where senior management finds that
its products have security concerns in certain markets. Ethically, they
believe the product should be recalled immediately to protect
consumers. However, actual enforcement can involve financial losses,
company reputation, and employees' livelihoods. In such situations,
decision makers need to balance the trade-off between public safety,
business interests, and employee well-being to ensure that their
decisions are both ethical and mindful of practical implications.
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Or, say, a company discovers a potential health risk in its products, but
making that information public could be a huge blow to the company's
reputation and market value. Policymakers need to balance exposing
product problems to protect consumers with company integrity.
Thus, in moral dilemmas, ethical actors need to make comprehensive
trade-offs between different factors and be aware of the complexity of
ethical decision-making. By thinking deeply and balancing individual
and social, emotional and rational, short - and long-term factors, ethical
actors can be more likely to make the right decisions in line with ethical
norms.
4. Each of the frameworks discussed in class require cognition. Explain
how thinking is relevant in a moral agent's decisions and actions.
Cognition plays a key role in the decisions and actions of moral agents.
Cognition involves information processing and understanding, and the
cognition of ethical issues provides the basis for moral decision-making.
The application of moral framework requires the cognitive framework
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itself, and different frameworks provide different solutions. Decisionmaking and action connect cognition and practice, and individuals need
to make decisions and put them into practice after recognizing the
ethical consequences. Individual cognitive differences and biases also
influence moral decision-making and may lead to different behavioral
choices.
In medicine, a doctor faces the decision of whether to inform a patient
of a difficult diagnosis. By recognizing the condition, treatment options,
and possible consequences, the physician applies a virtuous framework
that focuses on the best interests of the patient. Recognizing that the
information may cause pain to the patient, but also provide true
information, the doctor decided to insist on the information and put the
decision into practice to safeguard the patient's right to know and
dignity. In this process, the physician's cognition profoundly influences
the ultimate ethical decision and practice.
In business, business leaders face ethical decisions between profit
maximization and social responsibility. They need to be aware of the
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potential impact of different decisions on the company's economic
interests and social impact. Applying various ethical frameworks, such
as stakeholder theory, recognizes that companies must pursue not only
economic interests, but also the interests of stakeholders such as
employees, communities, and the environment. Recognizing the
challenge of balancing these interests, business leaders may decide to
adopt sustainable business strategies and put them into practice to
maintain the company's reputation and social responsibility.
In the legal field, judges are also often faced with ethical decisions in
their decisions. For example, a judge may recognize that personal
beliefs or racial beliefs may influence his decision. By understanding
different legal frameworks and principles, judges need to overcome
their personal cognitive biases and ensure fairness. Recognizing the
importance of neutrality in judicial decision-making, judges may decide
to take an objective and impartial stance and put it into practice to
ensure the credibility of the judicial system.
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These examples highlight the critical role of cognition in ethical decision
making in different fields and how various ethical frameworks can be
applied to guide decision making and practice. In this process, the
individual's cognitive level and moral concept have a profound impact
on the final decision result.
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