The Dilemmas of Business Ethics Courses

Abstract

Starting off from a general notion of a dilemma as that situation in which any of the alternative courses of action leads to some unwanted consequences, this chapter seeks to address two current and inter-related issues concerning business ethics courses. Firstly, it shall consider the inclusion of ethics in undergraduate and master programs in economics and business administration; and secondly, the “a-rational” choice forced on the students between the teleological and deontological doctrines with which these courses normally end. The authors defend that both issues could only be dealt with satisfactorily from a sound and valid “virtue ethics”, properly integrated into the economic and political realms of human activity. Concrete recommendations as to the reformulation of business ethics courses — with an emphasis on rational commitment, as opposed to “value-neutral” presentations — are explained in its concluding portion.KeywordsBusiness EthicHarvard Business ReviewBusiness AdministrationNicomachean EthicMoral EnquiryThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.