Vom Sollen zum Wollen –über neuere Entwicklungen in der Wirtschaftsethik

The classical question of moral philosophy reads: „What ought I to do?“ (Kant). Especially in modern times such a philosophy has been subject to criticism for not going beyond the ought. To address such criticism the question has to be answered in which way the ought can be implemented in modern, anonymous mass societies (Homann). Attempts to induce the members of such societies to translate the ought – out of insight, out of a sense of duty, out of religious convictions, or on the basis of cultural traditions – into action are prone to failure. Where the sanctions of face‐to‐face societies fail to have an impact, moral norms must be implemented in the rules governing societies. If there are effective sanctions for violating those rules, the majority of individuals will conform out of self‐interest.