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Towards Business Ethics as an Academic Discipline1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Georges Enderle
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Abstract

Recalling several profound disagreements about business ethics as it is currently discussed in Western societies, I emphasize the need for business ethics as an academic discipline that constitutes the “backbone” for both teaching business ethics and improving business practice (section 1). Then I outline a conceptual framework of business ethics that promotes a “bottom-up” approach (section 2). This “problem-and action-oriented” conception appears to be fruitful in terms of both practical relevance and theoretical understanding. Finally, I argue for (section 3) the relevance of discussing goals at all levels of human action (i.e., individuals, organizations, systems) as well as the indispensability of human rights, and propose Amartya Sen's “goal-rights-system” approach as a normative-ethical framework for business ethics that integrates these two fundamental aspects.

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Articles
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Business Ethics Quarterly , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , January 1996 , pp. 43 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 1996

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