Abstract

This 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).

Highlights

  • This paper will show that if we take conventional ethics seriously, there is no moral justification for business profits

  • Or not, this approach amounts to sidestepping the tension between conventional ethics and the profit motive

  • Our purpose here is only to illustrate that there is an alternative to conventional ethics, that there is no logical or historical justification for equating ethics with altruism, and that if one wants to truly unite the pursuit for profits with ethics, one ought to consider some form of egoism

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Summary

Structure

We will examine three conventional ethical theories: Christian ethics, Kantian ethics and Utilitarian ethics. We show that they are for unselfishness and against selfishness. Thereby, we show that the self-interested profit motive is antithetical to these theories. Further confirmation, we will briefly survey the field of business and business ethics, and to concretize how this anti-egoist perspective manifests itself. We will indicate an alternative to the abovementioned conventional ethical theories

Conventional Ethics
Can we Make Room for Self-Interest?
Christian Ethics
Kantian Ethics
Utilitarian Ethics
Business
Business Ethics
10 Where Do we Go from Here?
11 Non-Conventional Ethics
11.1 Aristotle
11.2 Spinoza
11.3 Ayn Rand
Findings
12 Conclusion
Full Text
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