Essay on Business Ethics
Human life is priceless. It is impossible to attach a monetary value to human life because it would be unethical to devalue human life. According to Daniel Statman (2005), “the idea that human life is priceless might be interpreted as meaning that it is strictly incomparable with any other value”(p. 80). However, business has a strong impact on human life through its products or services. There are many examples which demonstrate close relationship between human life and business practices. Many people have to take unnecessary risks, which may lead to losing their lives. Therefore, businessmen should orient their business practices around business ethics, placing emphasis on moral and social value of business activities. According to Daniel Statman (2005), business ethics promotes the “transition of the products of business activity into usable goods that can support human life and functioning”(p.100). Thesis statement: Businesses influence the value of human life through the quality of products and services, but individual’s own preferences often form the basis of reckless decisions, which may lead to the end of life.
As business has certain role in putting a value on a human life, it should take the lead from an individual’s own preferences. If people tend to act reckless, e.g. speeding, amateur body piercing, using over the counter medications to excess, or misusing products, like a lawnmower to trim a hedge, the government could step in, although human rights could be limited in some way. People, who do not value their lives and who prefer to act reckless, demonstrate indifference to the value of human life. The degree of knowledge regarding the reckless indifference to the value of human life stands for the awareness of an individual’s actions as intentional behavior (Gibson, 2006; Kolb, 2008).
Finally, should business be held liable? In fact, it would be wrong to hold business organizations liable. People who lost their lives due to their wrongful actions or decisions are weak people. In other words, ethical decisions depend on an individual’s responsibility. The products and services provided by business organizations cannot influence an individual’s decision, which may lead to the end of life (Machan & Chesher, 2002; Statman, 2005). Businesses should not be liable because ethical decision making is an individual’s responsibility.
As a matter of fact, the government could step in with the proper regulations and policies to help people realize the significance of ethical principles and moral responsibility and to assess the negative consequences of recklessness in decision making. As business organizations have developed high responsibility towards their clients, there is maximum protection provided by businesses in terms of safety and the proper testing of products before entering the market (Newton, 2008). It would be wrong to place a price tag on human life. Human life should be protected by the government. However if an individual is going to do something reckless, holding a business organization responsible for his/her actions would be unfair.
In conclusion, it is necessary to conclude that business ethics can be applied to any individual, but businesses are not liable for the recklessness of individuals. Businesses play certain role in putting a value on a human life. However, an individual’s preferences form the basis of many reckless decisions. In other words, if people tend to act reckless, the government could step in by means of certain policies and programs.
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