The Question of Corporate Responsibility - Annotated Bibliography Example

Introduction The case studies on business ethics from different walks of life like business, property and environment have been selected for the application and analysis of philosophical ethical theory. For the purpose of analysis of business ethics, philosophical theorists have adapted social contract theory to the businesses. Companies have, in their view become quasi-democratic associations, and their employees and other stakeholders have become the voice over a company's operations. This approach has especially become popular as a result of to the revival of contract theory in political philosophy, which is largely owed to John Rawls A Theory of Justice. The advent of the consensus-oriented approach in order to solving business problems have paved a way forward for the “quality movement" that really emerged in the 1980s. Afterwards Professors Thomas Donaldson and Thomas Dunne proposed a version of contract theory for business that is termed as Integrative Social Contracts Theory. They postulated that conflicting interests can best be resolved by formulating a "fair agreement" between the stake holders and parties, using the combination of i) macro-principles that is agreed upon as universal principles, and, ii) A micro-principles formulated by actual agreements among stake holders. However the critics insist that the proponents of contract theories still miss a central point, namely, that a business is the property of someone and is not a mini-state or an effective means of distributing social justice. Nonetheless, we would apply the above theoretical paradigm on all the three articles in this portfolio. Case Study: The Question of Corporate Responsibility by Dr. Robert C. Solomon University of Texas at Austin Utah Valley State College   800 West University Parkway, Orem, UT 84058   (801) 863-INFO Integrated social contract theory examines the behavior of the oil tanker of the Big Dirty Oil Company that had spilled millions of gallons of crude into the sea waters and onto the beaches of British Columbia and southern Alaska. The damage occurred to the beaches, wildlife and to the tourist industry. The loss to the ecology and the quality of life of the local residents was incalculable. Many millions of dollars for even the most minimal clean-up could not make up the loss to the nature. On investigation, it was revealed that the Captain of the Vulvas, Mr. Slosh, had drunk heavily. The ship itself was already long due for renovation and repair. CEO Rich altogether dismissed the protests as "the outpourings of Greenies and other fanatics" and instead promised the shareholders that his obligation was, and would always be, to assure the highest profits possible in the turmoil of market. This was fairly fit test case of Professors Thomas Donaldson and Thomas Dunne proposed new version of contract theory for business that has been termed as Integrative Social Contracts Theory. Conflicting interests of ecology, marine life and green peace activists versus could best be resolved by formulating a "fair agreement" between the stake holders and parties by the universal principles of fair justice to the environment and profit earners, but the same , it seems have not been observed by the CEO of the company. This was a chronic case study of the infringement of business ethics of all the corporate social responsibility of a CEO of an oil company. The CSR involves business ethics that require that a business must be complaint with the environmental requirements of the local agencies or the federal government. The profits yields by the businesses must have a part and portion for the improvement of environment through its developmental projects (Williams, O.F. 2000). The CSR involves business ethics that require that a business must be complaint with the environmental requirements of the local agencies or the federal government. The profits yields by the businesses must have a part and portion for the improvement of environment through its developmental projects (Williams, O.F. 2000). The businesses must pay the due taxes levies and other financial applications to the local and federal government and all the businesses must stop tax evasion and other corrupt practices with immediate affect. The salaries and perks and the recruitment ratio in the businesses must be gender balanced. It means that the women must have their equal in the jobs and salaries and they should not be discriminated against in any way. The businesses must also pay for the literacy projects and poverty elevation projects in the area wherever they are established. The contemporary society can be worth living in when all the above ethics learnt through the course material are practically applied to our own lives. It is not only great but also very useful to know and apply these ethics to the practical issues of life. Everyone knows what a good business is. But, only a few people know as to what are the business ethics and how can these be applied in the practical life situations. The social and corporate responsibilities of businesses not only make the society happy and worth-living but also the profits earned from these businesses are not only legal and sustainable but also durable and enjoyable. When the taxes are paid by the businesses they become easy and enjoyable to deal with (Kuse, H 1998). When the gender balance is done in the business this provides equal and equitable opportunities for the female members of society. The practical application of business ethics is very useful and beneficial for the whole of society. It yields unrelenting fruits for the society. The corporate social responsibility of businesses when applied in the practical life leaves less people poor and sick. It wipes out the poverty, hunger and disease from society. As mentioned above, practical application of CSR takes away the ignorance, diseases, inequalities and violence from society. The business ethics are like a boon and bounty for a welfare oriented society. With the application of biomedical ethics it is possible for the society to live with originals, cheaper and non-spurious drugs from society. There can not be any fake medicines available on the shelves of the medical stores. The medicines can only be produced and sold after proper research and investigation. Business Ethics Case Studies: The Polluter's Dilemma, Chris MacDonald URL www.businessethics.ca at http://www.businessethics.ca/cases/pollutersdilemma1.html Jonick Gun son was the environmental compliance manager in the company is currently faced with the decision whether or not to spend money on new technology that will reduce the level of a particular toxin in the wastewater that flows out the back of the factory and into a lake. Fish in the lakes and rivers in the area might soon have to be declared unsafe for human consumption. Company’s environmental compliance budget is tight and could jeopardize the company's ability to show a profit this year.  Professors Thomas Donaldson and Thomas Dunne proposed version of contract theory for business known as Integrative Social Contracts Theory identifies the conflicting interests of the factory profit orientation and those of the factory’s Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Environment. By formulating a "fair agreement" between the stake holders and parties including the factory owners and environmental stake holders, the problem could have been resolved. However the critics insistence that the proponents of contract theories still miss a central point, namely, that a business is the property of someone and is not a mini-state or an effective means of distributing social justice. This criticism can be answered in the case study of polluters’ dilemma the CSR defines and binds the factories in the ethical duties towards others and this factory must comply with the required norms of ecological preservation. The ecological responsibility of businesses is a greater paradigm that is available in the study of businesses from the perspective of economy, environment, and business. These ethics are basically humanitarian in nature and are meant to ensure, conserve and promote the larger cause of humanity over the cause of capitalism. For instance all the businesses are required, as a matter of basic ethic that the businesses should not pollute environment of air, soil and water. The businesses should not be a part of ozone depletion. They should help make the environment cleaner, greener and better off. They should help in beautiful landscaping and plantation of more and more trees (Childress, J.F. 1997). The development of new business projects should not be allowed to cut down the already existing trees and should not be allowed to destroy the wild life and other useful animals of that area. The businesses should not be allowed to emit the smokes and other harmful fumes in the air. Rather the businesses are required to start and set-up new and fresh environmental projects and help in the national conservation strategies. As far as the application of environmental ethics in practical life, it is rather more interesting and enriching experience of a neater and cleaner, greener and sustainable, durable and happy way of life. This is extremely important that the application of environmental ethics in practical life makes life longer, happier and healthy. For instance when the environmental ethic of reduction at source of waste and toxic materials by the industry is applied it makes the environment cleaner and sustainable. When the businesses or members of the society plant more and more trees, this results in greener cleaner and fresh environment which is full of oxygen (Ashley, B.M. & O’ Bourke, K.D. 1997). Such practices eat out the carbon-mono oxide and carbon dioxide. The conservation strategies and practices help the wild life, birds, fish and other marine and aquatic creatures to keep and sustain the ecological balance of environment. This sort of environment is necessary for saving many creatures and species of plants and animals from extinction. When the industries and vehicles are not allowed to emit larger quantities of smoke and dust in this way the environment of air can be kept healthier and cleaner. If the industries are allowed to discharge their toxic affluent in the soils, this results in the deterioration of soils and drying of trees which ultimately disrupts the environmental balance in the society. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: SOME NEW DIRECTIONS BENJAMIN HALE , Department of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA bhale@colorado.edu Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Metaphilosophy LLC and Blackwell Publishing Ltd Teachers of environmental ethics introduced the three primary positions on property: occupation arguments, labor theory of value arguments, and efficiency arguments. Then they contextualize these arguments in light of the contemporary U.S. wise-use movement which claims that nature can be owned as property, Social contract theory to the businesses also inserts and delves upon such positions. Companies have, in their view, as said before, become quasi-democratic associations, and their employees are the real stakeholders who have become the voice over a company's operations. Approach of occupation arguments, labor theory of value arguments, and efficiency arguments has the same premise in the contract theory in political philosophy, which is again largely owed to John Rawls A Theory of Justice, the “quality movement" that emerged in the 1980s has already underscored the need of occupational rights and their fair and square distribution amongst the stakeholders. However private ownership of the natural environment invites the latest version of integrated approach on the social contract on the basis of already mentioned postulates of a fair agreement on the premise of natural and universal justice and fair play. It can be safely said that all the ethics learnt in this course, when practically applied in the life can make this society greater and worth living. Because these are the ethics which show the successful pathways of life and their practical application can really make our lives happier and wealthy. Similarly by the unabated actions of the industries when they do not observe the environmental ethics of controlling their air and soil and water pollution, this would result into the rise in the temperatures of earth and unabated discharge of carbon dioxide. Ultimately this would result into the green house effect that would also lead to the depletion of ozone layer, droughts, floods, famines and bigger storms in the oceans. Ultimately the whole of the humanity would go on the natural path of destruction. We see that when the environmental ethics are not fully applied in the society today, this has resulted into the growth of poverty, hunger and disease around the world. Practically these are the direct result of non-application of environmental ethics in the businesses (Spann, G.A. 2000). Because, the temperature of the earth is rising, the seasons are getting disrupted, the rains and floods and droughts have become inconsequential to each other. This situation has resulted into inundating larger agricultural lands in the countries. The soil erosions are very common. The fertile soils are being deserted and rich forests are fast disappearing. This situation is snatching the livelihoods from the poor farmers. In short it can be said that The contemporary society can be worth living in when all the above ethics learnt through the course material are practically applied to our own lives. It is not only great but also very useful to know and apply these ethics to the practical issues of life. Everyone knows what a good business is. But, only a few people know as to what are the business ethics and how can these be applied in the practical life situations. The social and corporate responsibilities of businesses not only make the society happy and worth-living but also the profits earned from these businesses are not only legal and sustainable but also durable and enjoyable. Environmental ethics is the integral part of any sustainable development in today’s world. Businesses around the world are obliged to abide by all the ethics of environmental sustainability. The huge industrial setup in USA is mainly responsible for the unabated emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere and thus harming ozone layer. The future generations are bound to suffer heavy losses if USA does not adhere to the standard set up by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. If the environmental ethics are not complied by the US businesses around the world, the results are going to be dreadful. The global warming and depletion of the ozone layer is bound to create melting of glaciers and rampaging cancers would devastate the human life in the world. The floods and droughts would destroy the whole habitats on earth and forests would simply vanish. References; 1- Williams, O.F. (2000). Global codes of conduct> an idea whose time has come John W Houck. Notre Dame Series in business ethics. Notre Dame, IN university of Notre Dame Press. 2- Lewis, A & Warneryd, K. E (2002). Ethics and economic affairs. London; New York; Rutledge. 3- Shelton, K (1989). Integrity at Work executive classics, Provo, UT; Executive Excellence. 4- Childress, J.F. (1997). Practical reasoning in medical ethics series Bloomington, IN; Indiana University Press. 5- Bradley, P & Burls, A (2000) Ethics In public and community health professional ethics. London; New York; Rutledge. 6- Ashley, B.M. & O’ Bourke, K.D. (1997) Health care ethics: a theological analysis. Washington, D.C. Georgetown University Press. 7- Spann, G.A. (2000). The Law of affirmative action; twenty-five years of Supreme Court decisions on race and remedies. New York Bottom of Form Read More