Corporations!

[darkmage099]

The actions of corporations ought (implies a moral obligation) to be held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes or no. Examples?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post YOUR opinion, please. Do not just look at other posts and copy what they say.

[dusqi]

No. Corporations should only seek profit. It is up to governments (based on the votes of individuals) to regulate corporations, in order to give them the semblance of morality - i.e. corporations don't care about polluting, but if you make the penalty fine large enough, then they will act as if they care.

[Kinslayer777]

However, somewhat of a converse, is true. Government should not control the morals of the people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otherwise, I agree with the above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All and all, Google is cool :)

[darkmage099]

This is what I think. I am looking at it from both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting argument: The corporations is one whole. The individuals make up that whole. This does not give them room to dodge morality. Thinking like this has affected America for the worse. The workforce during the IR, slave trades. I think corporations need to have consequences for their actions as if they were individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Negate: While corporations should not ignore morality, they should not be the same as individuals. A corporation is its own system that participates in its own world that needs separate rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm torn, and I don't think my arguments are very good.

[1_man_army]

No. Corporations should only seek profit. It is up to governments (based on the votes of individuals) to regulate corporations, in order to give them the semblance of morality - i.e. corporations don't care about polluting, but if you make the penalty fine large enough, then they will act as if they care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sympathise with you to some extent, yes corporation should seek profit - they have a responcibility towards their shareholders to do so. However, they should also hold some social responsibilty in terms of its profiteering methods, effects on the local community, working conditions/pay for its employee's as well as the safety of its produce.

 

 

 

Corporations should seek profit in a responsible manner, government shouldn't have to legislate in order to change things (like minimum wage and safety procedures etc) but its a sad indictment on our society that they do have to.

[warri0r45]

The purpose of a company is profit, but with it, many of them have unrivaled power. With this comes responsibility and a huge potential to do good. They should at least do the best for thier consumers and employees and in my opinion they should use thier wealth and power to help make the world a better place. Lord knows they have the capacity to do so. :-w

[Bubsa]

Homework, eh?

[darkmage099]

Homework, eh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I won't lie. My homework is to come up with two cases. One affirms the resolution and one negates it. I just need to get my thoughts flowing, so I can do proper research when the time comes.

[Parabola]

Corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves. Their sole purpose is to generate revenue and they will only do something 'moral' if they think it will make them money indirectly, by improving their image (and Sony has proven that companies will do very immoral things to make a fast buck).

[Obsessive_Passion]

Ok without reading anyone else's opinions and commenting on them, this is how I've interpreted the question. Firstly, by simply rewording your statement, the actions of corporations are already being held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals. I'm a Business Studies student, and this was an entire 20-page chapter called ethical and social responsibilities of business. Hence, I have no choice but to say YES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from my textbook, "Socially responsible organisations want to structure their production methods to fit in with increasingly strict environmental regulations. Such firms take seriously their environmental responsibilities in raw material usage, packaging, waste treatment and energy consumption. Most organisations also want to engage in ethical business practices; to act honestly and morally... Not all businesses have adopted such an outlook. Some business owners still regard socially responsible and ethical business practices as a waste of money, the cost outweighing any benefits... Some businesses have become involved in lengthy and expensive court cases which attempt to resolve particular situations that are often centred around a number of ethical issues or socially responsible actions... [often resulting in] a deal of negative publicity and a deterioration in the business's reputation." (Chapman, S et al, 2006. Business Studies in Action: Preliminary course, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the same textbook: "Business ethics is the application of moral standards to business behaviour." A business may face the following ethical issues: fairness and honesty (they must obey all rules and regulations, e.g. OH&S - Occupational Health and Safety Act), communications (advertising issues), workplace relations and conflict of interest. Businesses can implement a Corporate Code of Conduct to encourage ethical behavious in the workplace. Businesses are pressured into doing this by: shareholders, governments, management, society, consumers and employees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was just ethics. There's also the social responsibilities of a business, involving "obligations to the community, above and beyond making a profit, obeying laws or honouring contracts." Milton Friedman, established economist, wrote in 1970 that "there is one and only one social responsibility of business - to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some arguments for socially responsible business practices:

 

 

 

- enlightened self-interest

 

 

 

- businesses have the resources to overcome some of society's problems

 

 

 

- as a corporate citizen, a business has a responsibility to the rest of society in which it operates

 

 

 

- businesses benefit from social improvements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some arguments against:

 

 

 

- businesses focusing on profit maximisation, which increases society's wealth

 

 

 

- profits are distributed to members of society anyway

 

 

 

- such programs cost money; may not return tangible benefits

 

 

 

- difficulty of pursuing economic + social goals simultaneously

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*taken from table 6.1 of the same textbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could continue this, but there's too much. Either way, it was good revision for me. :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. While profit may be the predominant goal of a business, it is not the only goal. It's a common misconception. Rargh.

[assassin_696]

Corporations are profit organisations, but that doesn't mean that they can be free from morality. I agree that because corporations are only ever made up of individual people it could be viewed that they are dodging the moral consequences, which is why the same rules have to apply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I disagree entirely that corporations should be allowed to regulate themselves. I've seen a few examples of companies who have gained a sense of morality and social consciousness but only to gain profit. Individuals may have a sense of morality but put them in a corporate environment and they soon lose it. A corporation made up of these kind of people cannot be trusted to self regulate. They must be kept in line by the same standards that we would apply to individuals.

[None2None]

I'd say everying has to have competition or ballance, else that coorperation will control not only you and me, but possibly the government itself...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look back at the days of the huge steel industries in America, They had their own town, and even had their own currency that was paid to their employees...It was begining until the government finally stepped in.

[darkmage099]

I have some new arguments I researched today in the media center. I will post them later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basically, I have to come up with 3 contentions or examples (for each side). Then, I have to come up with a value premise and criterion (I'm not explaining, lol. Too much).