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1. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Mollie Painter-Morland, Laura P. Hartman, Patricia H. Werhane Note from the Editors
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2. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Robert Baum Farewell from the Out-Going Editor of the Business & Professional Ethics Journal
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3. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Andrew Johnson A New Take on Deceptive Advertising: Beyond Frankfurt’s Analysis of ‘BS’
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The publication of Harry Frankfurt’s 1986 essay “On Bullshit,” and especially its republication as a book in 2005, have sparked a great deal of interest in the philosophical analysis of the concept of bullshit. The present essay seeks to contribute to the ever-widening discussion of the concept by applying it to the realm of advertising. First, it is argued that Frankfurt’s definition of bullshit is too narrow, and an alternative definition is defended that accommodates both Frankfurt’s truth-indifferent bullshit and what is here termed “culpably confused bullshit.” Second, it is explained why a great deal of advertising constitutes bullshit so defined.The essay concludes by making the case that bullshitting in general is clearly unethical on both Utilitarian and Kantian grounds.
4. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Bahaudin G. Mujtaba, Belal A. Kaifi Afghan-Americans’ Awareness of Business Ethics: A Study Based on Gender, Age, and Education
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High ethical standards have always been at the core of the Afghan culture throughout the country. Unfortunately, over the past few years in Afghanistan, bribery and corruption have become more widespread throughout the government offices as employees attempt to serve their customers. This quantitative study of 98 male and 116 female Afghan-American respondents analyzes their perceptions regarding the recognition of dilemmas related to ethics and bribery. The 214Afghan-American responses are compared with the average scores of 602 American respondents from the retail industry. The groups’ scores are significantly different with the later reporting less tolerance for unethical behavior. It appears that there are no differences in the responses of Afghan males and females. The younger generation seems to be as ethically mature as the older Afghans. Finally, higher education levels among the Afghan respondents demonstrated a statistically significant and positive correlation toward ethical maturity. Results and implications are presented.
5. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Scott T. Paynton, Maxwell Schnurer Corporate “Grassroots” Activism: A Juxtaposition
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Ideological positions are often rooted in binary terms. If a group or entity holds one ideological position then it seems reasonable that they cannot hold the opposing position. This has resulted in a division between corporate public relations and grassroots movements who oppose practices they believe negatively impact society and the environment. However, what happens when corporations practice ideologically justified business decisions that were called upon by grassroots movements for change? What happens to suppliers and distributors who must operate under the demands of changing manufacturing and consumerbehaviors? This paper examines the blending of corporate commercial practice with social and environmental ethos that works to form commercial grassroots activism to positively impact manufacturing and purchasing behaviors.
6. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Kim R. Sawyer, Jackie Johnson, Mark Holub The Necessary Illegitimacy of the Whistleblower
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This article examines the plight of the whistleblower using elements of organizational legitimacy theory. In recognizing the negative correlation between the actions of the organization and the whistleblower it becomes clear that the continuing legitimacy of the organization necessitates the illegitimacy of the whistleblower. This helps explain the continual blacklisting of the whistleblower and their vilification, resulting in the destruction of both their professional career and their reputation. Only protective legislation will provide any guarantees for the whistleblower.
7. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Philippa Smales Living Wages and Institutional Supply Chain Duties
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The question may be asked why many workers are still being paid below subsistence wages and I believe the answer can be found in the confusion over what exactly constitutes a “living wage” and who has the duty to pay these wages. This article therefore clarifies what a living wage is and gives a concrete example of how a living wage can be calculated. To understand who has the obligation to pay living wages I look to the theory of Alan Gewirth on individual and institutional responsibility and the account of Robert Mayer on structural exploitation to argue that all parts of the supply chain have the duty. The final part of this paper willoutline the inclusion of a living wage calculation into corporate codes of conduct to ensure that workers at the end of the supply chain receive living wages.
8. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Nicholas A. Snow, Walter E. Block Free to Smoke
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Freedom to smoke is part and parcel of overall freedom. The former cannot be abrogated without violating the latter. The present paper applies this insight to the regulations placed on the tobacco industry and smoking in general. We find that government interventions into people’s lives regarding smoking are highly incompatible with libertarian principles. We examine many regulations such as prohibiting youths from smoking, preventing second hand smoke, restrictions on advertising, taxing the industry, and liability issues.
9. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
A. N. M. Waheeduzzaman, Elwin Myers Influence of Economic Reward and Punishment on Unethical Behavior: An Empirical Study
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The study seeks to determine the influence of economic reward on unethical behavior with the help of a Reward Punishment Model. The model postulates that ethical or unethical behavior depends on the relationship among three factors: economic reward or benefit that a businessperson receives from the unethical practice, the severity of punishment the society imposes for such wrong-doing, and the probability of receiving the punishment. A short survey, which contained a hypothetical ethical situation, was administered to 251 respondents. The findings indicate that the probability of risk-taking decreases as the level of punishmentand the chance of being caught increases.
10. Business and Professional Ethics Journal: Volume > 29 > Issue: 1/4
Notes on Contributors
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