Business Ethics

This chapter approaches some of the fundamental issues that compose the debate around business ethics. Themes such as the reasons for anti-ethical behavior (i.e. “why do businesspeople behave the way they do?”), the distinction between good and bad business practices, and the nature of ideal behavior (i.e. “how should businesspeople behave”?) are treated both in theoretical and in illustrative manners. Beyond that, the chapter broaches the relevance of the debate (i.e. “why should we care?”), pointing to diverse forms with which moral deviations from men and women that are in the command of enterprises can negatively affect societies. Overlaps and distinctions between ethics and business ethics are also discussed, offering new justifications for the study of the latter. Within this view, the tripartite business ethics conceptual model is proposed, delimiting the region of confluences that structure the locus of this debate. Additionally, a brief historic of the developments that culminated in the consolidation of business ethics as a distinct discipline is presented. Finally, diverse practical applications of such discussions are conferred, focusing on relevant current themes (e.g. modern slavery, child labor, food production, and animal rights).