Introduction: A Typology of Ethical Theories

Abstract

As an academic discipline with a curricular presence, the field of business ethics is only about fifteen or twenty years old—at least in the United States. Given the youth of this field, there still exists much diversity of thought and little agreement regarding the most fundamental concepts and theories. Although most would agree that Kantian deontology and utilitarian ethics would be hard to ignore, other approaches such as Aristotle’s teleology or contemporary theories of caring receive varying attention, depending on the training and interests of those involved. So, aside from Kant and Mill, the field of business ethics has had considerable difficulty consolidating professional opinion regarding essential theoretical contributions.

“Man’s world is manifold, and his attitudes are manifold. What is manifold is often frightening because it is not neat and simple. Men prefer to forget how many possibilities are open to them. (Walter Kaufman, “I and You: A Prologue”, Prologue to Martin Buber’s I and Thou, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970. p. 9)