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Economic Instability and the Unfortunate, and Unavoidable, Consequences of Acting Ethically

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  • J. Alexander

Abstract

In this paper I describe and analyze an economic situation involving two competitive organizations. I put forth the argument that because of the systemic nature of decision making relative to managing the requirements of utilizing a descriptive equation that determines how many people an economic system can support, that even if all the players in the situation act ethically, the results will still be harmful, and necessarily so, to the system and to many innocent people. I will demonstrate that harming innocent people is required and morally defensible given the choices available. The best one can do is slow down the increase in disutilities and possibly operate the system within a range of acceptable behavior that minimizes the resulting harm to innocent people, even if we cannot entirely remove this harm. In this context ethics becomes the study of the acceptable as opposed to the preferable. Copyright Springer 2006

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  • J. Alexander, 2006. "Economic Instability and the Unfortunate, and Unavoidable, Consequences of Acting Ethically," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 147-155, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:66:y:2006:i:2:p:147-155
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-005-5571-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander, John, 2000. "It’s Nothing Personal, It’s Just Business: Economic Instability and the Distribution of Harm," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(3), pages 545-561, July.
    2. Arnett, Dennis B. & Hunt, Shelby D., 2002. "Competitive Irrationality: The Influence of Moral Philosophy," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 279-303, July.
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