Business and

Economics
Ethics

Session 4

Prof. Marek Hudon

Academic Year 2016-2017

1
 Wrap-up Session 3

Deontology vs. consequentialism

Du
ts
gh

tie
Ri

s
Interests
Kantian categorical imperative
(reversability & universability)

2
 Criticism

Criticism on Kant
Is reversibility always clear enough?
All murders should be punished (What if I am a murderer?)

What if rights of a same person conflict?

Global criticism:
A view of human beings as separated from each
other, not communally related
Illusion of equality? Eg: right to education 3
 Five Moral Principles

1. Utilitarianism
2. Rights
3. Ethics of Care

4
 Ethics of Care

In groups of 4 or 5
What is the right behavior and
when?
Why?

Until now, assumed that ethics should be

impartial
Nevertheless, special & close relationships
(friends, relatives etc.)
Basic argument: ethical behavior is more than
impersonal principles 5
 Ethics of care in Business
Source: Kakkori and Huttunenv
More recent application! On Virtual University!

Gilligan vs. Kohlberg

Caring for : a face-to-
face encountering, we
care directly and
immediately for another.
(vs. more general
caring about)
Each stage is a
structure which, formally
considered, is in better
equilibrium than its
predecessor

Problem is the Tie his theory to the

disconnection of ethics of Kant and
relationships Rawls 6
Moral dilemma can be solved by logic and reason
7
Source: Kohlberg (1969)
Quoted in Kakkori and Huttunen
Gilligans theory

8
Source; Kakkori and Huttunen
Two eleven-year-old children: Jakes answer was clear:
Heinz should steal the drug (Gilligan 1993, 2538).
Jake used logical argumentation like comparing the value of
human life and the drug.
9
Source; Kakkori and Huttunen
 Gilligans criticism of Kohlberg:

Jake also considered the fact that stealing is against the

law. Here he argumented that laws can be wrong,
because you cannot write up a law for everything you
can imagine.
Amys other ways to solve the problem, like to borrow
the money or negotiate on the matter. Amys main
concern was the effect that theft could have on the
relationship between Heinz and his wife.
Kohlbergs theory is that it has adopted the male form of
life as a norm
Gilligan: maturity is the stage in which an adult human
being recognizes the dual context of justice and care
10
Source; Kakkori and Huttunen
 How to apply it to business & economics?

Interdependence of relationship, recognition of

ones differences Ethics of responsibility
Modifies the prioritization of stakeholders
usually based on power, legitimacy and..
urgency
More weight on urgency! Should better
explain choices to other stakeholders
Question the role of altruism in management
More human face of companies?
Source; Ballet and Bazin (2004) 11
 Applications of ethics of care

Feminists: C. Giligan: men and women

approach of moral issues Indiv. of rights vs
women on care
Communitarian ethics:
concrete communities have a fundamental value that
should be preserved and maintained
Individual isolated is not important
But demand of care can conflict demands of
justice (eg managers obligation of justice
towards company vs. friend)
12
 Objections to care

What could we criticise?

Could lead to favoritism

Could lead to burnout: too many close

relationships; slave morality valorizing the
oppression of women (Puka, 1990; Card, 1990;
Davion, 1993)

Empirically flawed? (Sander-Staudt) 13

 Case study: Caltex (2): Care
Shareholders Managers
resolution
* Activities help
* Break relations Black workers
with SA (income increase, other
government or benefits)

* Leave the country * Withdraw would

endanger them

14
 Case study: Caltex (2): Actors
Managers
If company leaves,
Welfare of workers
would decrease
* Activities help
Utility Black workers
(income increase, other
benefits)
Special care of their
workers; cannot * Withdraw would
abandon them endanger them
Care

15
 Five Moral Principles

1. Utilitarianism
2. Rights
3. Ethics of Care
4. Virtue Ethics

16