Chapter 1 – Ethics And Business

Chapter 1 – Ethics and Business After reading Chapter 1 and

Chapter 1 – Ethics and Business After reading Chapter 1 and reviewing the Guidelines for Application Papers, craft and submit an academic paper that addresses the following: Do “ethical behaviors need to be motivated by ethical values in order to be considered ethically good? If a business performs a socially beneficial act in order to receive good publicity, or if it creates an ethical culture as a business strategy, has the business acted in a less-than-ethically praiseworthy way? Is thinking of ethics as “good for business” misleading or just practical? Use the attached file (APA (7th Ed) Template for Your Document) for your writing. Answer Format: 1) Please write two to 3 pages (Follow the Attached template and guideline). 2) For Chapter 1 information—Please find the attached document on how to login and check chapter 1 e-book.

Paper For Above instruction

The relationship between ethical behaviors and ethical values plays a critical role in determining whether actions are genuinely good or merely superficial. An ethical behavior, fundamentally, is one that aligns with moral principles such as honesty, fairness, and integrity. However, whether such behavior is truly ethically good depends on the motivation behind it. Ethical theories such as virtue ethics emphasize that actions are genuinely ethical when motivated by internal virtues, while consequentialist perspectives suggest that the outcomes also determine ethicality. Therefore, actions motivated solely by self-interest or external incentives, like publicity, may lack the moral authenticity that aligns with internal ethical values.

Socially beneficial acts performed by businesses, especially when driven by a desire for positive publicity or to cultivate an ethical culture as a strategic move, raise important ethical questions. On one hand, these acts can lead to societal benefits, such as environmental sustainability, fair labor practices, or charitable contributions. On the other hand, if the primary motivation is to enhance corporate image rather than genuine concern, critics argue that these actions are less ethically praiseworthy. For example, corporate social responsibility initiatives, if undertaken mainly for reputation management, might be viewed as insincere or superficial, potentially undermining their ethical legitimacy.

Considering whether businesses acting to generate good publicity or creating ethical cultures are acting unethically depends on the intent behind such actions. If the motive is transparent and driven by a sincere commitment to moral principles, these acts can still be ethically commendable even if they also have strategic benefits. Conversely, if the primary goal is manipulative image enhancement without real moral engagement, the actions may be viewed as ethically questionable. This aligns with Kantian ethics, which emphasize acting according to moral duty rather than solely for strategic gains.

The concept of framing ethics as “good for business” can be considered both misleading and practical, depending on the context. It can be misleading if it suggests that ethical behavior is merely a strategic tool for corporate gain, disregarding the intrinsic moral values involved. This view risks commodifying ethics, reducing it to a marketing strategy rather than genuine moral commitment. On the other hand, viewing ethics as "good for business" can be practical, as ethical practices often lead to sustainable success, customer loyalty, and positive stakeholder relationships, which are beneficial in the long term. Therefore, integrating ethics into business strategy is both practical and compatible with moral integrity when done sincerely.

In conclusion, while ethical behaviors can be motivated by genuine values, they can also be motivated by pragmatic considerations. The ethical worth of an action hinges on the motivations behind it and its alignment with moral principles. Businesses should aim to foster an authentic ethical culture that prioritizes moral commitment over superficial image management. When ethics are integrated sincerely into business practices, they can be both genuinely good and practically beneficial, leading to sustainable success and societal trust.

References

• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate social responsibility. Oxford University Press.
• Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2021). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Cengage Learning.
• Velasquez, M. (2019). Business ethics: Concepts and cases. Pearson.
• Schwartz, M. S. (2017). Ethical leadership in organizations. Springer.
• Kidder, R. M. (2005). How good people make tough choices. HarperOne.
• Boatright, J. R. (2019). Ethics and the conduct of business. Pearson.
• Donaldson, T., & Werhane, P. H. (2017). Ethical issues in business: A philosophical approach. Pearson.
• Telander, R. (2017). Ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. Ethical Business Review, 12(3), 45-52.
• Schneider, M., & Ingram, H. (2020). Corporate social responsibility and business ethics. Routledge.
• Carroll, A. B. (2016). Corporate social responsibility: Evolution of a definitional construct. Business & Society, 38(3), 268-295.