It is very day business life, I tend to agree that businesses can have ethical standards but they cannot be moral agents. It is because, for one to be a moral agent, they just have to be in a position to act with reference to being right and wrong and can be held responsible for the decision or behavior. They should have responsibilities and rights since they tend to have the power to choose and make decision. These traits are rare in business hence inhibit them from meeting the threshold of moral agency. The argument is supported by Aristotle when he posited that the moral agents must be a living creature who should understand the moral principles. Besides, he further stated that sometimes it is good to respond to an agent to appraise or blame on the basis of the actions and the disposition trait of the character. Always in the contemporary business, the business cannot accept any blame on the issues pertaining to being immoral and not adhering to the morality principles as it is dictated by the natural law or moral principles.
In relation to the deontological moral theory, rightness or wrongness does not mainly depends on the consequences they bring to the society but the fulfillment of duty. Kant mostly relates its argument on the Categorical Imperative principles which states that all immoral actions by the businesses are irrational since they go against the CI. He further believes that we are free and autonomous as long as morality is not an illusion. It thus calls for the businesses to be independent in their operations since they will be guided by the codes and principles of morality. In such a case, the businesses will not make to achieve morality when left to govern themselves without rules and policies. It is because, normally, businesses will use any means so as to cover up that they are adhering to the principles just to make their profit and to enhance the going on concern of the business. They can do anything ranging from advertisements to branding so as to win the trusts of the people but in real sense, they are far much away from conforming to the moral standards and principles. For example, they can reduce the quality of the products by reducing some of the ingredients they use so as to charge a price which is considered normal in the competitive market hence considered ethical agents and not moral agents. In the case where Kant put it forth that every event has a cause and these causes should be identified through a greater understanding of the empirical world. It thus indicates that for the business to be concluded to be having immoral behaviors in the society, they tend to have the sole cause and reason as to why they indulge in such malpractices. These trends should be observed and proper and appropriate solutions should be identified so as to aid in achieving morality in the society for the good of the common. Therefore, even if there is a call for freedom, the businesses operations should be analyzed so that their immoral actions which seem to them as a way of being committed to duty can be turned from being an illusion to rationality.
In relation to moral objectivism the moral truth exists distinctly from the opinions and some moral principles are objectively knowable on the basis of human reasoning and observation. Besides, it holds the universalism principles which posit that the right and wrong definition is similar to everybody across the world. I tend to concur that almost everyone can be able to observe and have a clear idea that the action they are undertaking has no moral values. In the case of businesses, before, they start behaving immorally, they first identify the risks embedded on it and find the mitigating strategies which they will adopt since they know one day the regulations and policies shall catch up with them. If the cost benefit analysis is favorable, then they will take action. These thus show that the businesses are going against the norms of morality intentionally just to meet the set objectives of the company either in the short or long run. These are what bring a lot problems to the society hence disqualifies them to be moral agents in the society since they cannot meet the threshold that morality demands.
In relation to ethical relativism, the judgment on whatever is right or wrong varies depending on the cultures and persons based on feelings and other cultural circumstances. It also depends on the dual human nature and conditions which plays a role in defining the beliefs and practices in the society. In such a case one can view the action of a business to be immoral while on the other context the other views it as moral. However, the behavior of the business in form of their production and management should be influenced by the region or cultural background of the place they are operating. For example, when the company specializes in the production of pork sausages, then they should not establish it in a location surrounded by the Islamic faith since they will consider it immoral.
Quick pause
This essay take you 4 hours to write?
Order yours — we'll do the heavy lifting while you study what makes this one work.
Order an essayAccording to the utilitarianism moral theory, the action is considered normally right or wrong depending on the magnitude of its effects. These are the good or bad results they produce. Therefore, the main aim of morality is to make life better by improving the chances of doing good things. Given those businesses main aim is to make profit and other objectives follow, they cannot be in a position to enhance the morals standards as per the utilitarianism theory and still cling on their primary profit objectives. They will tend to have ethical standards which only advocate for the greater value of trust, fairness and benevolence. The governing bodies just have to put for them laws, policies and regulations which shall guide their operations so as to achieve what is right and beneficial to the whole society as morals and ethics demands. Therefore, the actions of the business should be that which maximizes utility and produces the highest amount of good to the society in which the business is operating. Besides, the business while operating should do only one noble thing. That is taking actions in accordance with the weight of positive consequence they will bring to the society.
The utilitarianism concept is supported by the ethical absolutism which states that there is an eternal and static law which do transcends to all people across the world and it is the same to all people. The cord of morality is universal and if one does good, it can be seen and recognized by everyone. That's the reason why government sign global treaties, and award the Nobel peace prize. Therefore, it can be said that the businesses as a corporate entity should try to do good to enable them embrace morality which shall enhance the livelihood of all living things across the world.
