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Business and Environmental Ethics

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  • Hoffman, W. Michael

Abstract

This paper explores some interconnections between the business and environmental ethics movements. The first section argues that business has obligations to protect the environment over and above what is required by environmental law and that it should cooperate and interact with government in establishing environmental regulation. Business must develop and demonstrate environmental moral leadership. The second section exposes the danger of using the rationale of “good ethics is good business” as a basis for such business moral leadership in both the business and environmental ethics movements. The third section cautions against the moral shallowness inherent in the position or in the promotional strategy of ecological homocentrism which claims that society, including business, ought to protect the environment solely because of harm done to human beings and human interests. This paper urges business and environmental ethicists to promote broader and deeper moral perspectives than ones based on mere self-interest or human interest. Otherwise both movements will come up ethically short.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoffman, W. Michael, 1991. "Business and Environmental Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(2), pages 169-184, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:1:y:1991:i:02:p:169-184_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sarwar Uddin Ahmed & Eriko Sultana & Hanif Mahtab & Md. Zahidul Islam & Ikramul Hasan & G.M. Wali Ullah & Samiul Parvez Ahmed, 2017. "Does it Pay to be Socially Responsible? Comparative Evidence from a Developing Country," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 18(5), pages 1134-1154, October.
    2. Charles Cho & Martin Martens & Hakkyun Kim & Michelle Rodrigue, 2011. "Astroturfing Global Warming: It Isn’t Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(4), pages 571-587, December.
    3. Martina Gogolova & Lukas Vartiak & Erika Kovalova, 2023. "Identification of the Starting Points of the Environmental Responsibility of a Transport Company Based on Multi-criteria Analysis," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(4), pages 120-129, July.
    4. Antonio Bontempi & Daniela Bene & Louisa Jane Felice, 2023. "Counter-reporting sustainability from the bottom up: the case of the construction company WeBuild and dam-related conflicts," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 7-32, January.
    5. Tor Guimaraes & Kevin Liska, 1995. "Exploring the business benefits of environmental stewardship," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(1), pages 9-22, January.
    6. Mary Phillips, 2019. "“Daring to Care”: Challenging Corporate Environmentalism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 1151-1164, June.
    7. Svensson, Göran & Wood, Greg & Callaghan, Michael, 2010. "A corporate model of sustainable business practices: An ethical perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 336-345, October.
    8. Gabriel Eweje, 2006. "Environmental Costs and Responsibilities Resulting from Oil Exploitation in Developing Countries: The Case of the Niger Delta of Nigeria," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(1), pages 27-56, November.
    9. Göran Svensson & Greg Wood, 2008. "A Model of Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 77(3), pages 303-322, February.

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