Virtue Ethics' Application to Business Ethics

Virtue Ethics' Application to Business Ethics

As with all forms of ethics, whilst written about in a general sense

the ethical thought appear a feasible process and an appropriate way

to act and behave, it however needs to stand up against certain moral

issues to ‘test’ its fallibility. Business ethics would be one such

example.

Aristotle, the farther of virtue ethics felt community care is the

reason for the market system. A business would be selfless economic

structure and ethos. Aristotle’s word, ‘oikonomikos’ is used to show

this household trading and community-based economy

Virtue ethics as described by Aristotle has a central thesis of

improving oneself to be a better person. If everyone strives to do

this then the world would become a more productive and moral

environment to live in. He argues that the rational side of he soul

which revolves around intellectual values is the side which should be

cared for by the individual. He argues that virtue ethics is ‘at

variance with the central feature of the modern economic order.’ He

feels ‘internal goods’ are the most important to produce, these are

unique to a particular activity which use ‘analytic skill, strategic

imagination and competitive intensity.’ Fame, money and power would

therefore not come into this so would be described as unvirtuous

goals.

He gives an example of two fishing communities; the first produces

external goods and is a portrayal of current businesses. The fisherman

catch as much fish as possible to meet the demand and to make profit

which is the overriding goal. As soon as the demand for fish starts to

wane the crew will quit as there will be an ...

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...ected persons, expanding your moral

understandings by learning from others.

When natural law clearly spells out that according to the theory,

murder is wrong, virtue ethics aims to improve your character and

soul. By living a virtuous life it would be a natural progression to

realize murder is wrong.

In conclusion as with all moral codes it has its downfalls and so is

probably not the answer for mankind and although has the ‘upper hand’

over some issues, it seems woefully inadequate in others. The main

point is that it puts too much emphasis on man which for many would be

a hard task to achieve optimum morality. The code is elitist and

although it appears that man can look inside himself and his

experiences to know what is right and wrong often people need a code

or guide to ensure they are on the right track.