PHIL201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Robert Nozick, Tax Haven, Business Ethics
7 Jun 2018
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Department
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Professor
WEEK 5
Negative & Positive Obligations!
Claim:"
Business must respect moral as well as legal rules "
Central Question:!
What is the nature and extent of these moral obligations?!
!
Problem:!
different moral and political theories give different answers to this question!
- do we purely negative obligations or also positives?"
Increasing inequality "
Does it matter if everyone has enough?!
different views of business ethics have different implications for distribution of income, wealth and
opportunities in society!
example narrow view:"
-engage corporations to legal tax avoidance (offshore tax haven)"
-Less revenue for governments to spend on health or education "
-More income for companies and shareholders!
—> a company run in the interest of stakeholders will distribute income differently to one Run
solely by shareholder interests"
Distributive Justice:!
What is an fair way of dividing downsides and benefits in society?"
Criterias:!
equality, need, property, utility!
social primary goods:!
rights, liberties, opportunities, income, wealth !
!
Libertarianism:!
- free markets and limited governmental intervention will protect individual liverties and human
rights"
(Narrow view: interests of shareholders —> creation of wealth)"
Robert Nozick:!
only a free market society with minimal government regulation can protect human rights"
-when other people determine what we should do with out assets —> violation of our rights as
free agents"
-Society should be based on voluntary association and agreements between individuals "
Using some people for benefits of others without their consent amounts to violation of Kantian
respect for person"
Using one person to achieve a greater benefit for society fails to respect of this person"
-individuals have natural rights to life, liberty and property and these cannot be violated for the
sake of common good"
-whatever distribution of wealth arises from the free transaction of property holders is just
assuming the non violation of negative rights "
Property rights of shareholders are natural and absolute, functioning as side constraints in the
behaviour of others towards them"
—> morally impermissible for business managers to use the property of business owner for any
purpose "
Utilitarianism and Justice:!
- whatever contribution contributes most to the goal of utility maximisation"
Free markets are the most efficient and effective way of maximising overall welfare or happiness "
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Business must respect moral as well as legal rules. Problem: di erent moral and political theories give di erent answers to this question. Does it matter if everyone has enough? di erent views of business ethics have di erent implications for distribution of income, wealth and opportunities in society example narrow view: Engage corporations to legal tax avoidance (o shore tax haven) Less revenue for governments to spend on health or education. > a company run in the interest of stakeholders will distribute income di erently to one run solely by shareholder interests. Criterias: equality, need, property, utility social primary goods: rights, liberties, opportunities, income, wealth. Free markets and limited governmental intervention will protect individual liverties and human rights (narrow view: interests of shareholders > creation of wealth) Robert nozick: only a free market society with minimal government regulation can protect human rights.
