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Business Ethics and Selflessness
Dear Editor,
Re: "Firms Risk Encouraging Misconduct" -- Michael Deck -- April 16, 1998
-- The Globe and Mail (ROB)
I agree with Michael Deck that organizations should hold all employees accountable
to high moral standards. However, I strongly disagree with the assertion that "pure
self-interest" is the cause of unethical behaviour.
The widely accepted view that looting others constitutes selfishness -- that humans
are intrinsically inclined to do it -- that the only thing stopping them is fear
of reprisal -- that the ethical alternative is selflessness -- all of this is utterly
false.
A rational person pursuing his life and happiness long range recognizes that wealth
must first be created before consumed -- that reason is the key to prosperity --
that there is no incentive for anyone to produce if they aren't free to enjoy the
"fruits" of their labour or to trade it with other producers -- that the
essence of cheating or looting is punishing people for their productivity (which
is the essence of socialism) -- that pure self-interest consists in always respecting
the rights of others, as a selfish principle.
But since people cannot be forced to be rational, honest, productive, etc., corporations
should protect those who are from those who are not by holding people accountable
to high moral standards. Under the morality of selflessness, there is no logical
reason to protect anybody from anything.
Sincerely,
Glenn Woiceshyn
© 1998 Glenn Woiceshyn.
All rights reserved. This article can be found on-line at at http://www.capitalism.org/glennw. |
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