Commentary on “Business Ethics - On Getting to the Heart of the Matter”

Abstract

I believe that fundamental principle set forth in Paul S. Camenisch's article Business Ethics: On Getting to Heart of Matter is basically sound. It is his view that business' primary function...is producing of and services to sustain and enhance existence. He believes that goods and service element must be given priority in our understanding of business as a social reality and in our moral/ethical response to it. He concludes that businesses engaged in producing and services which do not contribute to flourishing are engaged in a morally questionable enterprise.... With exception of first 1-1/2? years after college, my career has been with one company, Johnson & Johnson. Because most of my experience has been limited to one company, I would like to look at Mr. Camenisch's basic criteria as it relates to one company, Johnson & Johnson. It seems that Johnson & Johnson does meet basic criteria set forth by Mr. Camenisch. The primary goal of our business is maintenance and improvement of human flourishing. The range of products and services which we offer includes baby care, first aid and hospital products, ethical pharmaceuticals, opthalmics, diagnostics and products relating to family planning, dental care, dermatology and feminine hygiene. Since I have worked in a company whose primary objective is the producing of and services to sustain and enhance existence, I would like to try to elaborate on and discuss some of ramifications of flourishing in practice. First, it is important to point out that Johnson & Johnson has had a philosophical guide, a Credo, since mid-1940's. The author of Credo, General Robert Wood Johnson, had considerable foresight when Credo was written back in mid-1940's. The Credo has been thoughtfully followed and updated over past forty years. A complete copy of Credo can be found at end of this article. I would like to quote from first segment of our Credo. We believe our first responsibility is to doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and ?all others who use our products and services. In meeting their needs everything we do must be of high