Ethics and Business

1. Can Adam Smith’s works offer contemporary firms any useful ethical guidance?

2. Does Rawls’ Theory of Justice sufficiently demonstrate that utilitarianism is deeply flawed? In your view, which provides the more attractive ethical framework for firms?

3. Andrew Carnegie’s writings on the Gospel of Wealth offer present-day wealthy individuals guidance on the accompanying responsibilities of wealth creation. Please discuss.

4. The ethical consumer is fictitious, as those who claim to be ethically concerned do not ‘walk the talk’. Please discuss.
Reading

The recommended text is:

Crane, A. and Matten, D. (2010) Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization, (Third Edition), Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Please note that this book does not cover all the contents of the course. You must supplement your reading of this text with other texts and journal articles.

The following textbooks will be drawn upon to varying degrees during the course.
• DeMartino, G. F. (2011) The Economist’s Oath: On the Need for and Content of Professional Economic Ethics, Oxford University Press: Oxford.

• DesJardines, J. (2011) An Introduction to Business Ethics, (4th edition), McGraw-Hill: New York

• Griseri, P. and Seppala, N. (2010) Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, South-Western CENGAGE Learning: Andover.

• Harrison, M. R. (2005) An Introduction to Business and Management Ethics, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.

• Harrison, R., Newholm, T., and Shaw, D. S. (2005) The Ethical Consumer, Sage: London.

Other useful texts include;

Sandel, M. J. (2012) What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, Penguin: New York.