Can Utilitarianism Be Distributive? Maximization and Distribution as Criteria in Managerial Decisions

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Audi
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Distributive Reading ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Single Text ◽  
Good For

ABSTRACT:Utilitarianism is commonly defined in very different ways, sometimes in a single text. There is wide agreement that it mandates maximizing some kind of good, but many formulations also require a pattern of distribution. The most common of these take utilitarianism to characterize right acts as those that achieve “the greatest good for the greatest number.” This paper shows important ambiguities in this formulation and contrasts it (on any plausible interpretation of it) with the kinds of utilitarian views actually defended by major proponents of utilitarianism. The aim is not to defend any of these views but to formulate them in a way that facilitates using them—or, more likely, some revised version suggested by the paper—in guiding decisions in business. The analysis provided here should also facilitate appraisal of utilitarianism, contribute to clarity in discussions of business ethics, and suggest a range of ethical standards that merit consideration for certain kinds of decision. If the results of the analysis are correct, a distributive reading of utilitarianism is at best misleading as a representation of its central thrust; it should not be described as the view that ethics calls for achieving “the greatest good for the greatest number”; and, understood as its major proponents take it, utilitarianism differs more from Kantian ethics than distributive readings imply and is more difficult to defend than it appears to be when viewed as intrinsically distributive.

scholarly journals Is there Such a Thing as a Good Profit? Taking Conventional Ethics Seriously

Philosophia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marja K. Svanberg ◽  
Carl F. C. Svanberg
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Moral Justification ◽  
Profit Motive ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis paper will show that if we take conventional ethics seriously, then there is no moral justification for business profits. To show this, we explore three conventional ethical theories, namely Christian ethics, Kantian ethics and Utilitarian ethics. Since they essentially reject self-interest, they also reject the essence of business: the profit motive. To illustrate the relationship, we will concretize how the anti-egoist perspective expresses itself in business and business ethics. In business, we look at what many businesses regard as proof of their virtue. In business ethics, we look at what many business ethicists say about the relationship between morality and self-interest and, thus, the profit motive. Ultimately, we will argue that conventional ethics can, at most, only justify the means of business (i.e., aspects of running a business), but not the end of business (i.e., profits).

Business Ethics is Socio-Political, or Not at All

2015 ◽  
pp. 251-281
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Pascal
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Political Responsibility ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Public Ethics ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

This chapter explores the moral aspects of commercial deals that allegedly democratic governments enter into with foreign investors. These are discussed against a twofold theoretical background – where the philosophical ideal of public ethics based on truth and transparency meets business ethics theories. The Kantian ethics of duty proves to be the key link between these, as particularly relevant for cases where the impact on a wide range of stakeholders is considerable. The main case under consideration is the controversial USD $2 billion Romanian mining project at Rosia Montana, which highlights the need for accountability mentioned above and lends itself well to a multi-fold business ethics analysis. The role of the civil society in effectively stopping the project is a good illustration of the stakeholder theory. The chapter concludes with the thesis that a high degree of socio-political responsibility may be best achieved when trying to combine principle-based and utilitarian thinking.

scholarly journals PEMBANGUNAN TATA KELOLA KELAUTAN INDONESIA: PERAN HUKUM INTERNATIONAL MEMBENTUK ETIKA BISNIS KELAUTAN

Arena Hukum ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-433
Author(s):  
Yohanes Sirait ◽  
◽  
Ai Permanasari
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
International Law ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Marine Governance ◽  
Deductive Method

Issues related to marine governance still need some improvement in Indonesia, where issues on determination of the maritime boundaries between Indonesia and other states are unsettled, the inadequate utilization and development of coastal areas and small islands to the large number of business activities that pollute the sea. This is due to unethical business practices and neglect of marine sustainability. This study aims to examine the development of marine governance from the perspective of international law. The development of governance can begin with the dissemination of business ethics which is an important part of marine governance. This normative juridical study, collected through literature study is analyzed using a qualitative deductive method. The results shows that international law contributes to upholding ethical standards of business and disseminating it to other states. Therefore, Indonesia needs to promote an appropriate business ethics oriented to environmental sustainability. It can begin by spreading the ethic from the international to the national level.

Business Ethics and Technology in Turkey

2011 ◽  
pp. 230-246
Author(s):  
Gonca Telli Yamamoto ◽  
Faruk Karaman
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Ethics And Technology ◽  
Unethical Behaviors ◽  
Turkish Case ◽  
Illegal Copying ◽  
It Ethics ◽  
Technical People

IT ethics cannot be analyzed without assessing business ethics in general and the cultural environment. This study is based on the Turkish case. Turkey lies at the crossroads of civilizations, making it hard to define a generally accepted set of ethical principles. Western, Islamic, and Turkish cultures are in competition with each of them, and a synthesis has not yet been achieved. Therefore, a common identity and common ethical standards cannot be acquired. In fact, such a synthesis could be categorized as a new civilization. This disagreement causes proliferation of unethical behaviors such as the illegal copying of software. The majority of highly educated technical people in Turkey approves of the illegal copying of software, if it is necessitated by the interests of the country. This shows that we have a long way to go to reach global ethical standards, and country-specific differences cannot be eliminated in the short term.

Business Ethics is Socio-Political, or Not at All

2016 ◽  
pp. 1560-1590
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Pascal
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Kantian Ethics ◽  
Political Responsibility ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Public Ethics ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

This chapter explores the moral aspects of commercial deals that allegedly democratic governments enter into with foreign investors. These are discussed against a twofold theoretical background – where the philosophical ideal of public ethics based on truth and transparency meets business ethics theories. The Kantian ethics of duty proves to be the key link between these, as particularly relevant for cases where the impact on a wide range of stakeholders is considerable. The main case under consideration is the controversial USD $2 billion Romanian mining project at Rosia Montana, which highlights the need for accountability mentioned above and lends itself well to a multi-fold business ethics analysis. The role of the civil society in effectively stopping the project is a good illustration of the stakeholder theory. The chapter concludes with the thesis that a high degree of socio-political responsibility may be best achieved when trying to combine principle-based and utilitarian thinking.

Business Ethics and Technology in Turkey

2008 ◽  
pp. 1931-1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonca Telli Yamamoto ◽  
Faruk Karaman
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Ethics And Technology ◽  
Unethical Behaviors ◽  
Turkish Case ◽  
Illegal Copying ◽  
It Ethics ◽  
Technical People

IT ethics cannot be analyzed without assessing business ethics in general and the cultural environment. This study is based on the Turkish case. Turkey lies at the crossroads of civilizations, making it hard to define a generally accepted set of ethical principles. Western, Islamic, and Turkish cultures are in competition with each of them, and a synthesis has not yet been achieved. Therefore, a common identity and common ethical standards cannot be acquired. In fact, such a synthesis could be categorized as a new civilization. This disagreement causes proliferation of unethical behaviors such as the illegal copying of software. The majority of highly educated technical people in Turkey approves of the illegal copying of software, if it is necessitated by the interests of the country. This shows that we have a long way to go to reach global ethical standards, and country-specific differences cannot be eliminated in the short term.

Business Ethics and Technology in Turkey

2011 ◽  
pp. 184-199
Author(s):  
G. T. Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Ethics And Technology ◽  
Unethical Behaviors ◽  
Turkish Case ◽  
Illegal Copying ◽  
It Ethics ◽  
Technical People

IT ethics cannot be analyzed without assessing business ethics in general and the cultural environment. This study is based on the Turkish case. Turkey lies at the crossroads of civilizations, making it hard to define a generally accepted set of ethical principles. Western, Islamic, and Turkish cultures are in competition with each of them, and a synthesis has not yet been achieved. Therefore, a common identity and common ethical standards cannot be acquired. In fact, such a synthesis could be categorized as a new civilization. This disagreement causes proliferation of unethical behaviors such as the illegal copying of software. The majority of highly educated technical people in Turkey approves of the illegal copying of software, if it is necessitated by the interests of the country. This shows that we have a long way to go to reach global ethical standards, and country-specific differences cannot be eliminated in the short term.

scholarly journals Kanze, Conley, & Higgins, 2019 Motivation of Mission Statements: How Regulatory Mode Influences Workplace Discrimination

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Kanze ◽  
Mark Alexander Conley ◽  
E. Tory Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Mission Statements ◽  
Workplace Discrimination ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
The Past ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Ethical Violations ◽  
Regulatory Mode ◽  
Discriminatory Behavior ◽  
Urgent Action

Despite concerted efforts to enforce ethical standards, transgressions continue to plague US corporations. This paper investigates whether the way in which a corporation pursues its goals can influence ethical violations, manifested as involvement in discrimination. We test this hypothesis among franchises, which employ a considerable amount of low-income workers adversely affected by discrimination. Drawing upon Regulatory Mode Theory, we perform a linguistic analysis of franchise mission statements to determine their degree of locomotion and assessment language. EEOC archival data for the past decade reveals that regulatory mode predicts franchise involvement in discrimination. Discriminatory behavior is associated with franchises whose mission statements motivate employees to embrace urgent action (locomotion mode) over thoughtful consideration (assessment mode). Two experiments demonstrate that participants exposed to high locomotion mission statements tend to disregard ethical standards due to their need for expediency, making significantly more discriminatory managerial decisions than those exposed to high assessment mission statements.

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