kantian ethics applied to business ethics

An individual who views the organization purely instrumentally is acting contrary to the “respect for persons” principle. A Kantian views an organization as a moral community. (How-ever, Bowie (1999) fills this gap.) Kant’s Ethics of Metaphysics: A Response To the Charge of Speciesism I. However, by the fact that the maxim is applied to everyone, we have to see what happens in the world where this reason is applied. Why Neither Being Trustworthy nor Not Trusting in Business Involves a Pragmatic Contradiction. • Kant argued that the highest good was the good will. Gradually, a few companies including Irkutsk Enerego, Bratsky LPK, and Rostelecom were able to establish a reputation as truth tellers. The argument that was raised by Kant was for an act to be considered morally acceptable it should be propelled by duty and not by motive. However, such sort of partiality is essentially cronyism and cannot be accepted under a Kantian ethical framework. Working out the implications of the three formulations of the categorical imperative provides a rich agenda for the business ethicist. The Kantian Theory is strong on the duties that are considered categorical which when translated to the principle of ethics is referred to as categorical imperative. The Kantian categorical imperative process of rational reflection and reasoned social discourse is theoretically capable of forming the moral environmental maxims applicable to business. Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/kantian-approach-to-business-ethics/. What this formulation of the categorical imperative does do is to put some constraints on the nature of economic transactions. Caroline (Parent of Student), “My son really likes. Character: Our behavior, conduct or. To act from a good will is to act from duty. Kantian ethics, therefore, obligate the individual involved in the decision-making process to behave in a moral fashion due to the humanity of both parties. Example: Positive freedom would endorse the practice known as open book management. For example, for Kant if a merchant is honest so as to earn a good reputation, these acts of being honest are not genuinely moral. If a maxim that permitted contract breaking were universalized, there could be no contracts (and contracts would cease to exist). However, for publicly held corporations and for partnerships, this is not the case. In fact, they are the only species among all the other species to have. A contradiction in conception happens when, if a maxim were to be universalized, it ceases to make sense because the “… https://phdessay.com/kantian-approach-to-business-ethics/, A Moral Evaluation of Child Labor in the Philippines. On one hand, it offers a unique opportunity for the development of individual morality through the categorical imperative to act ethically, which emphasizes humanity and autonomy. Under open book management, all employees are given all the financial information about the company on a regular frequent basis. Categorical Imperative . Save time and let our verified experts help you. Having been influenced by Pufendorf, Kant agrees that each individual has the obligation to perform moral duties to oneself as well as to other people (Bowie, 1999). A word on International business. The idea that there is nothing wrong with fees and that Kantian ethics can be applied through schemes like Open Book management make the theory practical. No one is used as merely a means in a voluntary economic exchange where both parties benefit. The 'Confusion to Avoid' sections at the end of each chapter will be particularly useful.” If everyone were free to take from everyone else, then nothing could be owned. These companies were then able to attract investors and have done well. Also read utilitarianism and business ethics essay, Haven’t found the relevant content? Scholars Since human beings have free will and are able to act from laws required by reason, Kant believed they have dignity or a value beyond price. Thus, it would be considered that whistleblowing is right in all situations, regardless of the consequences, which in the case of Enron led to the downfall of the company. So, could a HR manager be reasonable to assume that the same rules can be applied consistently in different circumstances? Business ethics most importantly concerns the ethical relationship(s) between businesses and stakeholders. T1 - A Kantian Approach to Business Ethics. Publicly held corporations have an obligation to make a profit based on their charters of incorporation, legal obligations to shareholders, and an implied contract with the public. Unlike utilitarianism, which forms the philosophical foundation for most cost-benefit analysis in business, Kantian ethics is not so easily applied. Applied to business, Kantian ethics is too rigid as the principle of duty stifles progress. Dean Harris has noted that, if Kantian ethics is to be used in the discussion of abortion, it must be decided whether a fetus is an autonomous person. Indeed Kant’s influence on that branch of ethical theory known as deontology is so strong that some writers simply refer to deontology as Kantianism. (4), When applied to business, the categorical imperative theorized by Kant as: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that is should become a universal law”, poses concerns and contradictions. In recent years applied ethics issues have been subdivided into convenient groups such as medical ethics, business ethics, environmental ethics etc. Each member of the organization stands in a moral relationship to all the others. An approach to Applied Ethics: Applied ethics is the branch of ethics which consists of the analysis of the analysis of specific, controversial moral issues such as abortion, euthanasia etc. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. Kantian Business Ethics. Open book management also enhances employee self-respect. Objections to the Application of Kantian Ethics to Business. Open book management was developed by Jack Stack at the Springfield Manufacturing Company. This makes Kantian ethics rigid because the consequence of an action is not necessarily separated from the action itself (DeGeorge, 2010). Morally obligatory - or not? Kant answers with a resounding no. a model of what work in applied ethics should be. • ‘Treating people as means’ does not prohibit commercial transactions. Bowie makes the point that “the categorical imperative is not irrelevant in the world of business” (7). Whistle-blowing- Kant would see this as your duty. Drawing on Kant's categorical imperative as applied to business ethics by Bowie (1999), a manager should ask herself if a world in which everybody acts in such a way would be possible. Kantian ethics would conclude that whistleblowing was the right act, Watkins had a duty to be honest and reveal information about the illegal acts of Enron. Positive freedom is the freedom to develop one’s human capacities. Utilitarian and Kantian. Thus, it is the intention behind an action rather than its consequences that make that action good. To find out, Kant would require us to universalize the maxim of this action: “It is morally permissible for anyone in desperate financial circumstances to make a lying promise, that is, to promise to repay borrowed money with no intention of doing so.” Would such a universalized maxim be logically coherent? Kant would dispute Friedman's view that business is only responsible to its shareholders- people should not be used as means to an end. I will. It is an excellent basis for my revision." Employees at Springfield Manufacturing Company use Kantian “respect for persons” language when describing the impact of open book management on working conditions. (Amazon Verified Customer), "Wow! Thus, treating the humanity in a person as an end, and not as a means merely, in a business relationship requires two things. Thus, if the employee steals from the boss, the theft is morally wrong. AU - Bowie, Norman E. PY - 2007/12/17. KW - Business ethics. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. number: 206095338. Kantian moral philosophers will find much to disagree with, but there is no doubt that the book raises important puzzles for Kantian moral theory. There are positive stories that illustrate Kant’s point. The paper refers to recent definitions of codes of ethics and considers reasons for the proliferation of such codes. It could not. The United Nations, formed centuries after Kant’s first book was published, is largely based on his vision of an international government that binds nation … Towards a Rule-Utilitarian Justification', Journal of Business Ethics 2(2) (May 1983). To act from a good will is to act from duty. In 1997 Freeman and Evan published an article proposing a Kantian stakeholder theory of corporate responsibility, which was (from 1998) included in “Ethical Theory and Business”, the Cambridge University Press reference work in this area. Kant believed that perfect duties are more important than imperfect duties: if a conflict between duties arises, the perfect duty must be followed. TY - CHAP. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was arguably one of the greatest philosophers of all time. (Amazon verified Customer), http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/content/BPL_Images/Content_store/Sample_chapter/1405101024%5C001.pdf. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) is generally considered to be one of the most profound and original philosophers who ever lived. Kant’s first formulation of the Categorical Imperative is that of universalizability: When someone acts, it is according to a rule, or maxim. This ranges from employers to employees to consumers. Should you ask someone to lend you money with a promise to pay the money back but with no intention of paying it back? If a maxim that permitted stealing were universalized, there could be no private property. o Another example found in the press concerns companies that try to renegotiate contracts. Kant and Business Ethics . Transition to Chapter 2. In discussing this issue, people seem to assume that actions that enhance the bottom line are acts of self-interest on the part of the corporation. Hedonic Calculus At first it would seem that Ford acted in a utilitarian way, doing a simple This is where it gets hard, without the balance of motives; a manager who is applying the Kantian theory will then have a hard time justifying whether the act is morally acceptable or not. Making money is just an intermediate good. The success of these honest firms has led other firms to be more honest to the point where the Russian stock market became viable. Business Ethics: A Kantian Perspective is one of the most important contributions to business ethics theory in recent years, not because Bowie has gotten everything right, but because it opens up a rich new way of thinking about business organizations. If it can, then the decision would be morally permissible. The primary formulation of Kant’s ethics is the categorical imperative, from … By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy. Would such a tactic pass the test of formulation one? On one hand, it offers a unique opportunity for the development of individual morality through the categorical imperative to act ethically, which emphasizes humanity and autonomy. • One example Kant used to illustrate this was a business one. Thus, it is the intention behind an action rather than its consequences that make that action good. Many have also argued that capitalism contributes to world peace. Organizations are created as ways of achieving common goals and shared ends. In this way, General Motors cut costs and contributed to its bottom line. What are the implications of this formulation of the categorical imperative for business? Negative freedom is freedom from coercion and deception. He finds it comprehensive but yet written in simple language which is ready to understand. Kant and Applied Ethics makes an important contribution to Kant scholarship, illuminating the vital moral parameters of key ethical debates. 71203 Business Ethics Assignment 1 Drawing on ethical theory to critique a claim. In this thoroughly revised and updated second edition, Norman E. Bowie shows that by applying Kant's three formulations of the categorical imperative, and by doing the right thing for the right reason, a business can achieve success in both of these fields. In this video I explore how Kantian ethics can be applied to business and consumers; employees and employers; business and globalisation; and business and the … A manager taking the Kantian approach to business ethics would regard providing such meaningful work as a moral obligation. A Kantian approach to business ethics The importance of purity of motive • Kant argued that the highest good was the good will. No, it could not. A great buy.” 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. business ethics a kantian perspective Oct 11, 2020 Posted By Judith Krantz Public Library TEXT ID a37a20bf Online PDF Ebook Epub Library this collection browse c2009 2020 bioethics research library box 571212 washington dc 20057 1212 2026873885 kantianism is a key version of the broader ethical It allows for a definition of meaningful work consistent with Kant’s views. One of the key features of the enlightenment was its cosmopolitan perspective, and Kant was cosmopolitan in many ways. Business Ethics. Prakashnan, Nirali. • A business manager who accepts Kantian morality would ask for any given decision, does the principle on which the decision is based pass the test of the first formulation, that is, can it be willed universally without contradiction? Kantian Business Ethics Unlike utilitarianism, which forms the philosophical foundation for most cost-benefit analysis in business, Kantian ethics is not so easily applied. In addition, international economic cooperation provides the foundation for a universal morality that is consistent with Kant’s philosophy. Therefore, human beings are often called emotional beings. When put into the business perspective any action has a maxim which will then become a universal law. Truly moral actions cannot be contaminated by motives of self-interest. o First, theft by employees, managers, and customers is a major problem in business. Business Law Ethics - Utilitarianism, Kantian and Virtue Ethics Introduction The society has the power to bestow or retrieve power form the business based on its activities. Normative Ethics: understanding the norms, principles, and “tests” that determine what is acceptable within one theory • Applied Ethics: applying a theory to a particular example, situation, or case Done well, Business Ethics involves some of all three of these. • Let us consider two other examples to illustrate Kant’s point. “I’m just so grateful without your site I would have crumbled this year” The individual can decide if their actions are worth doing to another person by. (4) When applied to business, the categorical imperative theorized by Kant as: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that is should become a universal law”, poses concerns and contradictions. Since the good acts of even the most enlightened corporations are almost always justified in part on the grounds that such actions are profitable, it may appear that even the best actions of the best corporations are not truly moral. However, a bit more should be said, especially in light of the fact that the general public judges business from a strict Kantian position. In this paper I will present the charge of speciesism contended by many animal right’s activists. Fords cost/benefit analysis determined it would cost less to ignore it than recall all Pintos. they not be coerced or deceived. Underlying ethical theory particularly in relation to Kantian ethics rigid because the consequence of an rather... S point used, i.e many have also argued that capitalism contributes to world.. Read utilitarianism and universalism are not the same philosophers of all time ethical which... Categorical imperative for business change the nature of economic transactions reasoned social discourse is theoretically capable of the... The practice known as open book management was developed by Jack Stack at the Springfield Manufacturing company does not commercial! 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