Ethics and Excellence: Cooperation and Integrity in Business / Edition 1

by Robert C. Solomon

Overview

The Greek philosopher Aristotle, writing over two thousand years before Wall Street, called people who engaged in activities which did not contribute to society "parasites." In his latest work, renowned scholar Robert C. Solomon asserts that though capitalism may require capital, it does not require, much less should be defined by the parasites it inevitably attracts. Capitalism has succeeded not with brute strength or because it has made people rich, but because it has produced responsible citizens and—however unevenly—prosperous communities. It cannot tolerate a conception of business that focuses solely on income and vulgarity while ignoring traditional virtues of responsibility, community, and integrity. Many feel that there is too much lip-service and not enough understanding of the importance of cooperation and integrity in corporate life. This book rejects the myths and metaphors of war-like competition that cloud business thinking and develops an "Aristotelean" theory of business. The author's approach emphasizes several core concepts: the corporation as community, the search for excellence, the importance of integrity and sound judgment, as well as a more cooperative and humane vision of business. Solomon stresses the virtues of honesty, trust, fairness, and compassion in the competitive business world, and confronts the problem of "moral mazes" and what he posits as its solution—moral courage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195087116
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/07/1993
Series:	The ^ARuffin Series in Business Ethics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	9.23(w) x 6.17(h) x 0.92(d)

About the Author

University of Texas, Austin

Table of Contents

Introduction: Can Ethics be Taught?I. Business Myths and Metaphors: Vices Parading as Virtues1. Macho Myths and Metaphors: Jungles, Battles, Games2. Abstract Greed3. The Myth of the Profit Motive4. Game Theory as a Model for Business and Business Ethics5. The End of Cowboy Capitalism6. Atomic Myths and Metaphors: Individualism and "the Entrepreneur"7. Beyond Selfishness: Adam Smith and Limits of the Market8. Beyond Cost/Benefit Analysis: Utilitarinism RefinedII. An Aristotelian Approach to Business: Framework and Theory9. Business Ethics: "The Third Wave" and the Problem of Theory10. The Aristotelian Approach to Business Ethics11. Business as an Unbounded Practice12. Aristotelian Metaphors: Corporate Cultures and The Professional Manager13. Business as a Profession: People imn Business as Professionals14. The Six Parameters of Aristotelian EthicsThe Corporation as CommunityIn Search of ExcellenceThe Individual in the OrganizationThe Meaning of IntegrityDecision-making and Good JudgmentHolism: Beyond Stakeholder AnalysisIII. The Heart of the Corporation: Business Virtues and VicesThe Nature of the VirtuesAristotelian Virtues, Warrior, Moral and Business VirtuesThe Basic Business Virtues: Honesty, Dependability, Trust and FairnessThe Virtues of the Corporate Self: Friendliness, Honor, Loyalty, ShameCompetition, Caring and CompassionJustice: The Ultimate Virtue of Corporate LifeResentment: Corporate PoisonThe Charasmatic Virtues: Saints, Heroes, Clowns and Rogues (Nietzschian Management)Theories in Practice: Ethics StylesMoral Mazes and the Problem of IntegrityEpilogue: Philosophers in the Corporation: Apologists or Subversives?