Ethical Relativism vs. Moral Absolutism

• The module explores ethical issues in business, including moral views, personal responsibility, and decision-making.
• Corporate actions and accountability get shaped through these ethical considerations.
• Business ethics' impact on society gets analyzed through real examples.

Ethical Relativism vs. Moral Absolutism

• Ethical relativism refers to morality is based on cultural, historical, or personal circumstances.
• Moral absolutism refers to universal moral principles are applicable to all individuals, regardless of circumstances.

Ethical Relativism

• Moral values get shaped by social, cultural, and individual perspectives under ethical relativism.
• What is considered right or wrong becomes subjective.

Main Features of Ethical Relativism

• Rejection of Universal Moral Standards: Ethical relativism says objective, universally applicable moral principles do not exist
• Cultural Determination of Ethics: Each culture has its own ethical framework.
• Influence of Societal Norms and Context: Norms, values, and historical contexts of a society shape moral judgments.

Examples of Ethical Relativism

• Arranged Marriages: Some cultures normalize arranged marriages, while others see them as a violation of individual autonomy.
• Dietary Practices: Some cultures prohibit eating certain animals, while others consume them regularly.

Criticisms of Ethical Relativism

• Justification of Unethical Practices happens, where harmful practices (like discrimination) get justified if culturally accepted.
• Ethical relativism may prevent moral progress through discouraging critical examination of harmful practices because it asserts that all moral codes are valid
• Moral inconsistency can occur in multicultural societies, where conflicting moral standards create difficulty to resolve ethical disagreements.

Moral Absolutism

• Certain ethical principles are universal and unchanging, regardless of cultural or individual differences.

Main Features of Moral Absolutism

• Universal Moral Principles: Moral laws apply equally to all, regardless of culture or personal beliefs.
• Independence from Cultural Influence: Ethical truths exist independently of societal norms.
• Inherent Right and Wrong exist, which are inherently immoral, regardless of circumstances.

Examples of Moral Absolutism

• Regardless of nationality/culture, all individuals have fundamental rights that should be upheld as universal human rights.
• Universal condemnation exists regardless of context, in taking a person's life without justification, which is considered murder.

Criticisms of Moral Absolutism

• Lack of Flexibility happens, ignoring cultural diversity and complexity of human societies.
• Difficulty in Resolving Moral Dilemmas exists because it may not provide clear answers where ethical principles conflict.
• Interpretation Variation means different cultures/individuals may differently apply universal values based on context.

Free Will, Moral Responsibility, and Determinism

• The debate centers on whether humans control their actions or whether choices are predetermined by external forces.

Free Will

• The ability to make choices independently, unimpacted by external forces/factors.

Main Features of Free Will

• Autonomy in individuals means control over their decisions.
• Individuals can distinguish right from wrong and are accountable for their choices, meaning they have ethical responsibility.
• Independence from biological/environmental factors means those elements do not entirely determine human actions.

Examples of Free Will

• Choosing a Career, which is based on interests and aspirations rather than being forced.

• Moral Choices: Returning a lost wallet even though one could have kept the money.

• Personal Growth happens when an individual works hard to overcome negative habits.

• Citizens making independent political decisions without external coercion occurs during Voting in Elections.

Criticisms of Free Will

• External Influences: Decisions may still be influenced by genetics, upbringing and societal norms.
• Neuroscience: Scientific studies say that brain activity helps determine choices before people's conscious awareness
• Extreme Situations: Free will is sometimes limited in extreme situations, such as coercion and mental illness.

Moral Responsibility

• It involves acting ethically while recognizing the effect that the decisions have on others, and accepting the consequences.

Main Features of Moral Responsibility

• Agency describes the the ability to make choices.
• Accountability means people are held accountable for the consequences of actions.
• Intentionality considers that the individuals must have a good reason to be considered 'moral' otherwise it is accidental.
• Awareness entails a person understanding the consequences of their actions before deciding.
• Capacity considers situations when a person is uncapable of understanding right or wrong.

Examples of Moral Responsibility

• Helping a stranger in need requires a decision to act with kindness and empathy.

• Apologizing for a mistake and taking steps to make amends means one is being morally responsible for apologizing.

• Parenting entails raising children, providing for their needs, and teaching them right from wrong.

• Environmental stewardship means an organization has a moral responsibility to minimize harm and protect resources.

Criticisms of Moral Responsibility

• Under Determinism, actions are pre-determined, so individuals may not have true moral responsibility.
• Luck challenges the fairness of assigning moral responsibility.
• Mental Health and Capacity can affect the individuals because their conditions affect their actions and accountability.

Determinism

• Prior conditions causing all events, including human actions.

Main Features of Determinism

• Causality of Actions means all actions are results of preceding actions.
• Shaping of Behavior is a blend of biological, environmental, and social factors.
• Under Questioning Free Will, our choices are shaped by experiences and external factors.

Examples of Determinism

• Genetic Influence: A person excels due to inherited traits and cognitive predispositions.
• Psychological Trauma can develop issues with relationships or exhibit aggression in adulthood.

Criticisms of Determinism

• It undermines moral responsibility and accountability because actions are determined by external/internal conditioning when considering Moral Accountability.
• Decisions may involve a blend of influences and free will when considering Complex Decision-Making.
• The research shows there is a chance for overcoming personal growth/intervention with capacity for change.

ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Business ethics guides corporate behavior.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) extends beyond profit-making and helps businesses toward society.

Business Ethics

• Business ethics governs decision-making processes and ensures that companies operate with integrity and fairness.

Main Principles of Business Ethics

• Honesty and Transparency mean companies must supply truthful information.
• Fair Treatment of Employees includes fair wages, safe working conditions, and non-discriminatory policies.
• Consumer Protection through product safety, and avoiding deceptive marketing.
• Corporate Governance from ethical leadership and accountability prevents corruption and fraud.

Examples of Ethical and Unethical Business Practices

• Honest Advertising vs. False Advertising contrasts representing your product in ads accurately vs misleading customers.
• Fair Wages vs. Exploitation contrasts paying a living wage vs underpaying workers.
• Environmental Sustainability vs. Pollution contrasts implementing eco-friendly methods vs irresponsibly disposing of waste.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Focuses on the ethical obligations of businesses toward social and environmental well-being.

Key Areas of CSR

• Environmental Sustainability involves adopting renewable energy, and minimizing waste.
• Community Engagement exists through supporting education, healthcare, and job creation initiatives in local communities.
• Ethical Labor Practices involves practicing fair wages, providing safe working conditions, and respecting workers' rights.
• Philanthropy means donating a portion of profits to charities and social causes.

Examples of CSR Initiatives

• Eco-Friendly Packaging utilizes biodegradable materials to reduce environmental impact.
• Fair Trade Practices support suppliers while ensuring their compensation.

Benefits of Business Ethics and CSR

• Consumer Trust is built as ethical businesses attract loyal customers and improve brand reputation.
• Employee Morale is improved when treatment of employees increases job satisfaction and productivity.
• Investor Confidence is gained when investors support companies with ethical standards.
• Long-Term Profitability occurs as companies achieve sustainability by aligning financial goals with social impact.
• Ethical business practices and CSR are key to sustainable development.