Business ethics?

[DarkConan2009]

I heard that there is a class you can take called ethics in the work place or business.
Is it me or is that an oxymoron?...lol

I live in america btw. A friend and me got into a debate about it. His stand is there are business ethics out there that most people abide by. My stance is it is a low minority if any and that the current situation we are in proves that overwellmingly.

It got me to thinking about ethics in general as is applies to my country. I'm talking ethics here and not morallity. So my question is this. Do you think America as a whole is ethical? If so please explain why.


I know it's kind of a odd subject to talk about but I got no Conan to watch, T.V. is in suck mode at the moment, and I am just curious.
Btw...excusse any typos or miss spellings. As usual it is the wee hours of the morning for me and I am too bord to sleep or check my spelling and grammer....LOL

[Tenken]

I heard that there is a class you can take called ethics in the work place or business.
Is it me or is that an oxymoron?...lol

It's an oxymoron.. LOL

Believe it or not, businessmen and politicans are the #1 unethical on this planet.. LOL..
Seriously, they don't care if they cause other companies, parties or the people to suffer, as long as THEY thrive.  Business is where people work with shrewdness and diplomacy, if you're too moral or kind, you'll be outcompeted.

If you talk about ETHICS in business, talk about LEGAL LAWS because the laws (such as those that protect free competitions and prevent monopoly) are what businessmen abide to, not morality. 
PS: I don't see how "ethics" differs from "morality".

I'm talking ethics here and not morallity. So my question is this. Do you think America as a whole is ethical? If so please explain why.

  It's impossible to judge a country as a whole.  There are so many "ethical dilemmas" in America nowadays from law, business to medicine, etc.  And even in each category, Americans are divided by their stances. There're always those who think and make ethical choices AND those who are obsessed with personal profits. The fight is still going on.

[DarkConan2009]

 
PS: I don't see how "ethics" differs from "morality".

The difference between ethics and morals can seem somewhat arbitrary to many, but there is a basic, albeit subtle, difference. Morals define personal character, while ethics stress a social system in which those morals are applied. In other words, ethics point to standards or codes of behavior expected by the group to which the individual belongs. This could be national ethics, social ethics, company ethics, professional ethics, or even family ethics. So while a person’s moral code is usually unchanging, the ethics he or she practices can be other-dependent.

So you see the difference is in the eye of the beholder and seems to be like the changing tides...lol

[Tenken]

I see the point now.

For example, in euthanasia, MY stance is to let the patients choose their life course, either it's life or death. In SOME states, it's "unethical" for doctors to "assist" in the process of dying. So even though I don't agree, I have to follow this "ethics".  In short, 

Ethics = expected rules of conduct, either explicit or implicit.
It's not serious as a "law" but still it's something you have to follow.

[miakakiri]

I heard that there is a class you can take called ethics in the work place or business.
Is it me or is that an oxymoron?...lol

I live in america btw. A friend and me got into a debate about it. His stand is there are business ethics out there that most people abide by. My stance is it is a low minority if any and that the current situation we are in proves that overwellmingly.

It got me to thinking about ethics in general as is applies to my country. I'm talking ethics here and not morallity. So my question is this. Do you think America as a whole is ethical? If so please explain why.


I know it's kind of a odd subject to talk about but I got no Conan to watch, T.V. is in suck mode at the moment, and I am just curious.
Btw...excusse any typos or miss spellings. As usual it is the wee hours of the morning for me and I am too bord to sleep or check my spelling and grammer....LOL

Ethics in the workplace is not in itself an oxymoron. "Business Ethics" is about as much of an oxymoron as "military intelegence" or "nonworking mother" (meaning it depends on how you look at it).

There are various codes of business ethics which exist. How much of them is actually followed depends on the company and/or profession. Sometimes it depends at least in part on what the punishments are for failing to follow the code.

I think our current situation is mostly a lack of political ethics, along with finance-sector ethics failings. That, however, represents only a portion of our big country. Media attention can and does skew facts, making it a tough call on what percentage of businesses are lacking in ethics.

Overall, no, I don't think America is all that ethical, but as I said my veiwpoint may be skewed by what I've heard, or even by my own experiences working for a big corporation.

I may have had a further point, but I think it got lost in the reminents of a bad day at work....