Ethics and Excellence: Cooperation and Integrity in Business (The Ruffin Series in Business Ethics): Robert C. Solomon
Review
“An excellent book in business ethics! The critical issues are dealt with in a clear manner, without any psychobabble.”–Vijay Raja, Atlantic Union College of Business Management
“[T]imely and relevant,…wise and right-handed…”–Business Ethics Quarterly
“An excellent book on the nature of business as a social practice which demands certain qualities of character from the people who participate in it, which means virtually everyone.”–Eugene Donahue, Creighton University
“Outstanding work! We have already adopted it as a text.”–Scott Rae, Talbot School of Theology
“Excellent work! This represents a badly needed paradigmatic shift in terms of a framework for discussions about ethics in business.”–Kenman L. Wone, Biola University
“Solomon is always reliable.”–Robert P. Tucker, Florida Southern College
“Superb! Comprehensive, accessible, insightful!”–Raymond A. Belliotti, State University of New York at Fredonia
“Should be widely read by those involved in business.”–Long Range Planning
“Well written and organized. Might make a useful text–especially in a graduate-level course.”–Hush M. Curther, Southwest State University, Minnesota
“The first truly philosophical business ethics text I have seen. It is admirable.”–Sister Therese A. Roche, College of St. Elizabeth
The Greek philosopher Aristotle, writing over two thousand years before Wall Street, called people who engaged in activities which did not contribute to society “parasites.” In his latest work, renowned scholar Robert C. Solomon asserts that though capitalism may require capital, it does not require, much less should be defined by the parasites it inevitably attracts. Capitalism has succeeded not with brute strength or because it has made people rich, but because it has produced responsible citizens and–however unevenly–prosperous communities. It cannot tolerate a conception of business that focuses solely on income and vulgarity while ignoring traditional virtues of responsibility, community, and integrity. Many feel that there is too much lip-service and not enough understanding of the importance of cooperation and integrity in corporate life. This book rejects the myths and metaphors of war-like competition that cloud business thinking and develops an “Aristotelean” theory of business. The author’s approach emphasizes several core concepts: the corporation as community, the search for excellence, the importance of integrity and sound judgment, as well as a more cooperative and humane vision of business. Solomon stresses the virtues of honesty, trust, fairness, and compassion in the competitive business world, and confronts the problem of “moral mazes” and what he posits as its solution–moral courage.