Naslov
HYPOCRISY MANAGEMENT: HOW TO RESOLVE SOME BASIC BUSINESS ETHICS PROBLEMS?

Autori
Bogdanović, Mario

Izvornik
Romanian Economic and Business Review (1842-2497) 16 (2021), 2; 20-39

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
moral crisis, hypocrisy, value system paradox, profit maximization, moral maximization, business ethics, intrumental/extrinsic/egoistic/practical values, humanistic/intrinsic/ prosocial/universal/true values, ideology/idolatry, balancing values.

Sažetak
This paper deals with three ethical paradoxes in the contemporary business ethics, pointed out in form of questions: 1) Can people serve to two different/opposite value systems (instrumental/extrinsic/egoistic/ practical vs. humanistic/intrinsic/prosocial/altruistic/universa l/true one)? Accordingly: How to resolve paradox between „what should be“ and „what it is“ in business ethics, i.e. how to resolve ethical paradox between „profit (egoism) maximization“ vs.“ moral (altruism) maximization“? 2) Is contemporary dominant capitalism ideology/idolatry most appropriate for business ethics? Accordingly: How to resolve paradox of captalism ideology/idolatry vs. humanism ideology/idolatry? 3) How to overcome contemporary hypocrisy as a result of opposite values in different value systems? Accordingly: How to balance practical need and mercenary (utilitarian i.e. egoistic values) which are functional (i.e. benefitial) but not moral, with humanistic/prosocial values which are moral but not functional (benefitial) in order to deminish widespread hypocrisy? It is used methodology of literature review, reflection and conceptualization. Major findings showed: 1) If business ethics should not be ethical (with humanistic values) we haven't ethical problem. Paradox of profit vs. moral (ethics) maximization have several quite different possible solutions: a) opt for moral maximization ; b) opt for profit maximization ; c) opt for philosophical solution where reality is exactly as it should be, so as result of such solution we have problem of hypocrisy (specultive solution is to equal „what it is in reality in ethical sense“ with „what ethically should be“). 2) Contemporary dominant capitalistic ideology and appropriate idolatry (profit maximization with combined idolatry of profit/competition/power/egoism has serious ethical deficits in theoretical and practical sense. There is to propose change/improvement with humanistic values and humanistic ideology/idolatry. 3) As in contemporary business/economic life dominate hypocrisy as unadequatelly solved paradox between instrumental/egoistic/practical and humanistic/prosocial/altruistic values. Solution is seen in cultural change from socialization to oppression to unhuman instrumenal values (e.g. violence). Implications of this paper arise from the insight in present systemic metaethical paradoxes and possible solutions so for business ethics theorists offer framework which can produce deeper discussions and new heuristics ; for researchers give guidelines for future empirical research ; for practicioners/managers offer insight in relevant business ethics paradoxes and possible solutions which can be practically implemented and for decisions makers and general public also implies value system humanization by mentioned solutions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

POVEZANOST RADA