Business Ethics Education and the Pragmatic Pursuit of the Good

This book is an extended argumentfor the critical importance which justice and ethical leadership should have inbusiness ethics education. The book examines the history of ideas and purposesin education, the contemporary role of business schools, and the socialfoundations of moral education to conclude that the pragmatic pursuit of thegood must be a central aim of business strategy. To meet the challenges offacing society today, the masters of business must be moral craftsmen in a justand democratic private property economy that serves the common good. The authorgrounds this vision for business leadership in the centrality of systems ofexchange in human society, in generating prosperityand providing for thegeneral welfare. Business ethics education has focused primarily on moralformation of individual leaders and managers in the context of ethical codes,organizational culture, and legal compliance. Important as this approach is, itfails to generate a sufficient level of business responsibility to satisfylegitimate social concerns regarding the use of natural resources,environmental sustainability, reasonable limitation of systemic risk in capitalmarkets, and fair allocation of goods and services. If the social purpose ofbusiness is not intentionally embraced and diligently pursued, the economy mayenrich a few but impoverish the society, its resources, and its democracy.Hence this book argues for a new vision of business ethics that isgrounded in public accountability of business operations and outcomes for thecommon good, as a matter of justice.

List of contents

Dedication.- Preface.- Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 The History and Ideals of Business Education.- Chapter 3 Contemporary Foundations for Business EthicsEducation.- Chapter 4 Social and Historical Foundations for BusinessEthics.- Chapter 5 Business Strategy as Social Responsibility and asa Matter of Justice.- Chapter 6 Moral Learning as Moral Practice.- Chapter 7  PublicEthics and the Principles of Public Deliberation.- Chapter 8 Moral Education in the Pragmatic Pursuit of the Good.- Chapter 9 Education for Ethical Leadership: SocialResponsibility and Public Deliberation.- Chapter 10 Moral Formation in Four Essential Components:Sensitivity, Judgment, Motivation, and Character.- Chapter 11 Moral Apprenticeship:  Moral Formation in the Context of Practice.- Chapter 12 Conclusion: Moral Formation and Ethical Reflectionin Business Education.- Index.

About the author

Francis J. Schweigert serves as professor
in the College of Management at Metropolitan State University and director of master’s
programs in Public and Nonprofit Administration, Nonprofit Leadership and
Management, and Public Administration. His primary areas of teaching and
research are nonprofit governance and management, public and business ethics, restorative
justice, and evaluation. Prior to coming to Metropolitan State University in
2006, Frank worked at the Northwest Area Foundation as a community liaison to
regional development projects and as the lead for research and program
evaluation. He continues to be active as a volunteer mediator and circle keeper
in dispute resolution and restorative justice.

Frank earned his doctorate in
Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1997,
focusing on the social and philosophical foundations of education. He has
published numerous articles and chapters on business ethics, public ethics,
evaluation,leadership, and restorative justice. His current research focuses
on public ethics and business ethics education, especially business
contributions to the public good as a matter of justice.

Summary

This book is an extended argument
for the critical importance which justice and ethical leadership should have in
business ethics education. The book examines the history of ideas and purposes
in education, the contemporary role of business schools, and the social
foundations of moral education to conclude that the pragmatic pursuit of the
good must be a central aim of business strategy. To meet the challenges of
facing society today, the masters of business must be moral craftsmen in a just
and democratic private property economy that serves the common good. The author
grounds this vision for business leadership in the centrality of systems of
exchange in human society, in generating prosperityand providing for the
general welfare. Business ethics education has focused primarily on moral
formation of individual leaders and managers in the context of ethical codes,
organizational culture, and legal compliance. Important as this approach is, it
fails to generate a sufficient level of business responsibility to satisfy
legitimate social concerns regarding the use of natural resources,
environmental sustainability, reasonable limitation of systemic risk in capital
markets, and fair allocation of goods and services. If the social purpose of
business is not intentionally embraced and diligently pursued, the economy may
enrich a few but impoverish the society, its resources, and its democracy.
Hence this book argues for a new vision of business ethics that is
grounded in public accountability of business operations and outcomes for the
common good, as a matter of justice.

Product details

• Authors: Francis J Schweigert, Francis J. Schweigert
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.2016
• EAN: 9783319334004
• ISBN: 978-3-31-933400-4
• No. of pages: 254
• Dimensions: 159 mm x 243 mm x 239 mm
• Weight: 514 g
• Illustrations: XIII, 254 p.
• Series: Advances in Business Ethics Research; Advances in Business Ethics Research
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Social sciences, law, business > Business