A CRITICAL SURVEY OF THE

DIFFERENT NORMATIVE ETHICAL

THEORIES COMMONLY USED IN
BUSINESS DECISION MAKING
“there is always a best way of doing
everything”
-Ralph W. Emerson
INTRODUCTION
Ethics is not only concerned with the study of
what is right or wrong in our human conduct. As a
practical science, ethics also investigates how
man ought to behave in a very specific and
concrete situation by examining his conduct in
the light of various norms that guide his moral
judgment. The word ought also implies the moral
obligation on the part of the actor or the doer of
such action. This chapter discusses the different
ethical theories as proposed by different
philosophers which are commonly used by
businessmen, managers and decisions makers to
OBJECTIVES
1. understand and evaluate critically the
various ethical theories and principles as
proposed by different philosophers.
2. Appreciate ethics as a normative science
3. Resolve moral issues and ethical
dilemmas in business from the
perspective of various ethical theories
4. Develop the ability to identify and
resolve moral issues in business
THE NORMS OF MORALITY ACCORDING TO
SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND TRADITIONAL
ETHICS
Norms- are cultural products (including values,
customs, and traditions)
Which represent individuals’ basic knowledge
what others do and think that they should do.
THE NORMS OF MORALITY ACCORDING
TO SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND
TRADITIONAL ETHICS
Morality
Consist of the conformity or non
conformity of the human conduct with
norms.
ANTECEDENT CONSCIENCE
Is a judgment before an action is done.
Its main functions are to command, to
advice, to forbid, and to permit.
CONSEQUENT CONSCIENCE
Is a judgment after an act
TRUE CONSCIENCE
Is a conscience which judges things truly as
they are
ERRONEOUS CONSCIENCE
Is also called false conscience.
It judges things in a distorted manner since
it considers bad acts as good and good acts
as bad.
CERTAIN CONSCIENCE

This is the kind of conscience that moralists

recommend to be always followed by man.
DOUBTFUL CONSCIENCE

It happens when a person is not certain

about a moral judgment. Moralists
recommend that this kind o conscience
should not be followed unless the person
has resolved the doubt.
SCRUPULOUS CONSCIENCE

Is one which see wrong there there is none.

It is always scared to commit evil
LAX CONSCIENCE

It is the opposite of scrupulous conscience.

The kind of conscience which fails to see
wrong where there is wrong.
NATURAL LAW
Traditional ethics considers this as the
remote norm of morality.

It reflects what the things is in accordance

with its nature.
ETERNAL LAW
⦿ The order that reflects God’s will and
purpose
⦿ It is always true and immature
⦿ It is the basis of all other laws
⦿ Other laws are true and just only if they
reflect the eternal law
⦿ It is the way it should be