How is “Business Ethics” Possible?

Abstract

Beginning with a characterization of ethics as what should be done “all things considered,” I reject the traditional “moral manager” model of business ethics and conventional stakeholder analysis as ways of dealing with ethical issues in the context of large corporations, to which any viable approach to business ethics must apply. In light of my rejection of traditional approaches to the subject, business ethics stands in need of a new agenda. I suggest that what I call the “moral corporation” model provides a suitable framework, and I outline several issues that might characterize such an approach. Finally, I consider a challenge to my proposed reorientation of business ethics and conclude that it does not provide a reasonable alternative.

Citation

Roper, J.E. (2005), "How is “Business Ethics” Possible?", Pava, M.L. and Primeaux, P. (Ed.) Crisis and Opportunity in the Professions (Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 181-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1529-2096(05)06010-4