Business Ethics A Kantian Perspective

This book provides essential reading for anyone with an academic or professional interest in business ethics today.

Norman E. Bowie is Elmer L. Anderson Chair in Corporate Responsibility at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of fourteen books and over 50 articles on business ethics and political philosophy. He was a recent fellow in The Program in Ethics and Professions at Harvard University.

Preface

vii

Introduction

1

(176)

The Self-Defeating Nature of Immoral Business Practice

11

(30)

Introduction

11

(1)

Immoral Actions Are Based on Self-Defeating Maxims

12

(2)

Inconsistency and Immorality

14

(1)

Applications to Business

15

(4)

It Seems Right in Theory But Does It Work in Practice?

19

(5)

Objections to the Application of Kantian Ethics to Business

24

(1)

Extending the Reach of Categorical Imperatives: Pragmatically Inconsistent Maxims

25

(5)

Why Neither Being Trustworthy nor Not Trusting in Business Involves a Pragmatic Contradiction

30

(7)

Transition to Chapter 2

37

(4)

Treating the Humanity of Stakeholders as Ends Rather Than as Means Merely

41

(41)

Introduction

41

(2)

The Respect for Persons Principle

43

(5)

Not Using Employees: Neither Coercion nor Deceit

48

(6)

Business Practices That Reduce or Remove Coercion and Deception

54

(6)

An Objection and Replies

60

(3)

Positive Freedom and Meaningful Work: Respecting the Humanity in a Person

63

(4)

Kant's Reflections on Work

67

(4)

Meaningful Work and Contemporary Business

71

(11)

The Firm as a Moral Community

82

(38)

Introduction

82

(1)

Viewing Organizations and Human Nature

83

(4)

Creating the Kantian Moral Firm: The Kingdom of Ends Formulation of the Categorical Imperative

87

(3)

The Principles of a Moral Firm

90

(6)

Implications for Organizational Studies

96

(24)

Acting from Duty: How Pure a Motive?

120

(29)

Introduction

120

(1)

Kant's Position on the Purity of Moral Motives

121

(7)

Strategic Payoffs and Moral Motives

128

(9)

Reasons and Emotions: A Brief Aside

137

(1)

Multiple Moral Motives

138

(11)

The Cosmopolitan Perspective

149

(28)

Introduction

149

(2)

The Morality of the Market

151

(9)

International Business Can Contribute to World Peace, Universal Rights, and Democracy

160

(6)

Objections and Replies

166

(7)

Conclusion

173

(4)

Bibliography

177

(2)

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Business Ethics A Kantian Perspective

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials