The purpose of this paper is to give an account of some

of the current areas of scholarship in business ethics

and to suggest how these areas may be relevant for
scholars working in other business disciplines. We
endeavor to paint a picture of a healthy discipline full
of controversy, rich intellectual discussions, and the
beginnings of several research traditions. To begin, we
examine how it is common practice to think of
‘business’ and ‘ethics’ as separate entities, and suggest
how such a ‘separation thesis’ can be used to diagnose
problems in a host of business disciplines. We next
examine the literature on corporate agency and
responsibility that questions whether or not a
corporation can be said to be normally accountable, in
the same way that individual moral agents can be held
accountable, and we look at an emerging research
tradition of ‘stakeholder theory’ that cuts across the
disciplines of business. We then explore two
contemporary issues in business ethics: (1)
International Business Ethics; and, (2) Environmental
Ethics and Business, and we conclude with suggestions
for some additional research questions.
For Business Ethics is a daring adventure into the world
of business ethics. It offers a clear and accessible
introduction to business ethics and also expands
business ethics beyond its current narrow confines. It is
ground-breaking in the sense that it invites a
distinctively critical approach to business ethics, an
approach that the authors argue is part and parcel of
ethics.
With a thought-provoking glossary and
recommendations for further readings, For Business
Ethics is an essential purchase for students and
practitioners alike. It is at once an introduction to
business ethics and a challenge to anyone who wishes
to take part in or change contemporary organized
society.