Business Ethics

by Buchholz, Rogene A.; Rosenthal, Sandra B.

• ISBN13: 9780133507867
• ISBN10: 0133507866
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Unique in both perspective and approach, this is the first book to use classical American pragmatism as an ethical framework for dealing with ethical issues in business.The book first explores ethical theory from both the traditional and pragmatic perspectives. Then, using the pragmatic perspective, discusses the nature of the corporation and its relationship to society, the various environments in which business functions, and specific issues in the contemporary marketplace and workplace.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART ONE: A CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS ETHICS	1	(100)
CHAPTER 1 The Nature of Business Ethics	1	(23)
Definitions and Approaches	2	(2)
The Evolution of Business Ethics	4	(7)
The Field of Business Ethics	11	(2)
Objections to Business Ethics	13	(2)
Questions for Discussion	15	(1)
Endnotes	16	(1)
Suggested Readings	17	(1)
Short Cases	18	(6)
CHAPTER 2 Traditional Approaches to Business Ethics	24	(31)
Utilitarianism	24	(3)
Ethical Formalism	27	(2)
Rights	29	(3)
Justice	32	(5)
Common Features of the Preceding Positions	37	(1)
Virtue Theory	38	(4)
Choosing Ethical Frameworks	42	(2)
Questions for Discussion	44	(1)
Endnotes	44	(2)
Suggested Readings	46	(1)
Short Cases	47	(8)
CHAPTER 3 A Process Approach to Ethical Theory	55	(26)
The Individual and the Community	56	(4)
Value and Moral Reasoning	60	(8)
Other Topics	68	(2)
Questions for Discussion	70	(2)
Endnotes	72	(1)
Suggested Readings	73	(1)
Short Cases	74	(7)
CHAPTER 4 Scientific Method and Human Experience	81	(20)
The Fact-Value Distinction	83	(3)
Process Ethics and the Scientific Method	86	(2)
The Fact-Value Distinction Revisited	88	(5)
Questions for Discussion	93	(1)
Endnotes	93	(1)
Suggested Readings	94	(1)
Short Cases	95	(6)
PART TWO: THE CORPORATION IN SOCIETY	101	(92)
CHAPTER 5 The Market System and Business Organizations	101	(23)
Elements of the Market System	103	(5)
Ethics and the Market	108	(3)
Problems with the Market	111	(4)
The Market as a Social Process	115	(1)
Questions for Discussion	116	(1)
Endnotes	117	(1)
Suggested Readings	117	(1)
Short Cases	118	(6)
CHAPTER 6 Business and Society	124	(18)
The Relationship of Business to Society	127	(2)
Problems with These Approaches	129	(1)
A Critique	130	(4)
Questions for Discussion	134	(1)
Endnotes	134	(2)
Suggested Readings	136	(1)
Short Cases	136	(6)
CHAPTER 7 Public Policy and the Corporation	142	(24)
Elements of the Public Policy Process	143	(8)
Public Policy and the Market System	151	(4)
The Role of Public Policy in a Market Society	155	(3)
Questions for Discussion	158	(1)
Endnotes	159	(1)
Suggested Readings	160	(1)
Short Cases	161	(5)
CHAPTER 8 The Nature of the Corporation	166	(27)
Characteristics of the Corporation	166	(2)
Purposes of a Corporation	168	(2)
Corporate Moral Agency	170	(7)
Creating an Ethical Business Organization	177	(7)
Questions for Discussion	184	(1)
Endnotes	184	(2)
Suggested Readings	186	(1)
Short Cases	187	(6)
PART THREE: BUSINESS IN ITS DIVERSE MORAL CONTEXTS	193	(100)
CHAPTER 9 Business in Its Technological Environment	193	(25)
The Management of Technology	193	(3)
Previous Attempts to Define the Problem	196	(4)
Redefining the Problem	200	(3)
Technology and the Worker	203	(4)
Questions for Discussion	207	(1)
Endnotes	207	(2)
Suggested Readings	209	(1)
Short Cases	209	(9)
CHAPTER 10 Business in Its Natural Environment	218	(24)
The End of Nature	219	(2)
New Directions in Environmental Ethics	221	(7)
Bridging the Chasm: Pragmatic Process as a Unified Ethical Perspective	228	(4)
Questions for Discussion	232	(1)
Endnotes	232	(2)
Suggested Readings	234	(1)
Short Cases	235	(7)
CHAPTER 11 Business in Its Cultural Environment	242	(20)
The Protestant Ethic	243	(6)
Behavioral Changes in American Society	249	(1)
Environmental Impacts of Instant Gratification	250	(1)
Implications for Society and the Corporation	251	(2)
Questions for Discussion	253	(1)
Endnotes	254	(1)
Suggested Readings	255	(1)
Short Cases	256	(6)
CHAPTER 12 Business in Its International Environment	262	(31)
Multinational Companies	262	(4)
Multinationals and the Issue of Cultural Relativism	266	(4)
Issues Affecting Multinational Corporations	270	(9)
The World Community	279	(1)
Questions for Discussion	279	(1)
Endnotes	280	(2)
Suggested Readings	282	(2)
Short Cases	284	(9)
PART FOUR: MARKETPLACE AND WORKPLACE ISSUES	293	(122)
CHAPTER 13 Business and Consumers	293	(36)
Setting the Moral Context	295	(1)
The Modern Consumer Movement	296	(2)
Safety Concerns	298	(10)
Advertising and Product Promotion	308	(5)
Products Liability	313	(3)
Responses to Consumer Rights	316	(1)
Questions for Discussion	317	(1)
Endnotes	318	(3)
Suggested Readings	321	(1)
Short Cases	322	(7)
CHAPTER 14 The Changing Workplace	329	(22)
The Changing Nature of Work	329	(3)
Collective Bargaining and Employee Rights	332	(4)
The Family-Friendly Corporation	336	(3)
The Changing Social Contract	339	(5)
Questions for Discussion	344	(1)
Endnotes	344	(1)
Suggested Readings	345	(1)
Short Cases	346	(5)
CHAPTER 15 Discrimination in Employment	351	(30)
Prejudice and Discrimination	352	(2)
Equal Opportunity and the Workplace	354	(7)
Women and Equal Opportunity	361	(6)
Other Issues Involving Discrimination	367	(1)
Diversity in the Workplace	368	(2)
Questions for Discussion	370	(1)
Endnotes	370	(3)
Suggested Readings	373	(2)
Short Cases	375	(6)
CHAPTER 16 Rights and Obligations of Employers and Employees	381	(34)
Termination and Job Ownership	381	(3)
Plant Closings	384	(2)
Safety and Health	386	(5)
Insider Trading	391	(3)
Confidentiality and Trade Secrets	394	(2)
Conflicts of Interest	396	(2)
Whistle-Blowing	398	(3)
Privacy	401	(4)
Questions for Discussion	405	(1)
Endnotes	406	(3)
Suggested Readings	409	(1)
Short Cases	410	(5)
PART FIVE: THE MORAL MANAGER	415	(34)
CHAPTER 17 Leadership in Business	415	(18)
The Nature of Leadership	415	(2)
Toward New Philosophical Foundations for Leadership	417	(3)
Leaders versus Managers	420	(2)
Moral Management	422	(3)
Questions for Discussion	425	(1)
Endnotes	425	(2)
Suggested Readings	427	(1)
Short Cases	427	(6)
CHAPTER 18 Ethics and Education	433	(16)
Freedom, Responsibility, and Education	437	(4)
Questions for Discussion	441	(1)
Endnotes	441	(1)
Suggested Readings	441	(1)
Short Cases	442	(7)
LONG CASES	449	(82)
Beech-Nut Corporation	449	(9)
Johnson Controls	458	(8)
Save the Turtles	466	(7)
The War on Cigarettes	473	(27)
The Generic Drug Scandal	500	(11)
A. H. Robins	511	(20)
Index	531