2.6.4

Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism

Test yourself

Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation

Is corporate social responsibility just a disguise for greedy businesses trying to make profit? Does globalisation promote or dissuade businesses from pursuing good ethics?

Illustrative background for Argument: CSR is a disguise Illustrative background for Argument: CSR is a disguise ?? "content

Argument: CSR is a disguise

  • Some argue that most businesses' association with social issues comes from a calculation that this association will help them increase their profits through building up a positive brand image with the customers they want to attract.
  • This argument says that companies behave in a more ethical way in order to promote their business in a positive light and gain more custom and, consequently, profit.
Illustrative background for Arguments: CSR is not a disguise Illustrative background for Arguments: CSR is not a disguise ?? "content

Arguments: CSR is not a disguise

  • There is external pressure on businesses to act ethically. If that is the case, can they be accused of acting hypocritically when they are obliged to accept the responsibilities they have to their customers and other stakeholders?
  • It can’t be hypocritical if they are held to account by the law, especially with whistle-blowing policies potentially being used against them.
Illustrative background for Globalisation promotes good ethicsIllustrative background for Globalisation promotes good ethics ?? "content

Globalisation promotes good ethics

  • The pursuit of good ethics as the foundation of good business is something that the excesses of globalisation might be encouraging.
  • Some transnational corporations have made sincere efforts to live up to their mission statements.
    • Microsoft, for example, has donated well over $1 billion to charity since 1983.
Illustrative background for Globalisation discourages good ethicsIllustrative background for Globalisation discourages good ethics ?? "content

Globalisation discourages good ethics

  • Globalisation operates mostly in the interests of the richest countries, which continue to dominate world trade at the expense of developing countries.
  • The role of LEDCs (less economically developed countries) in the world market is mostly to provide the North and West with cheap labour and raw materials.
  • Critics include groups such as environmentalists, anti-poverty campaigners and trade unionists.

Can Humans Flourish in Capitalist & Consumerist Systems?

In consumerist societies, people frequently buy new goods. This kind of society places a lot of value on owning things. In a capitalist system, property, industry and business are privately owned.

Illustrative background for Arguments: humans can flourishIllustrative background for Arguments: humans can flourish ?? "content

Arguments: humans can flourish

  • Consumerism gives individuals the power to make choices between a range of brands and acquire a wider range of products - ones that help them to live a lifestyle that was only possible for the very wealthy decades ago. This, in turn, drives the economy.
  • This drive has been behind many technological developments.
  • Capitalism allows people to choose what to consume and this choice leads to more competition and better products and services.
Illustrative background for Capitalism: humans cannot flourishIllustrative background for Capitalism: humans cannot flourish ?? "content

Capitalism: humans cannot flourish

  • Capitalism encourages individuals (and businesses) to pursue wealth and become greedy. They may act irresponsibly with regards to the environment or ethics in the pursuit of gain.
  • Capitalism has had a negative impact on the environment. It reduces the way we think about the planet as humans become more concerned with a collection of natural resources to be maximised and acquired.
Illustrative background for Consumerism: humans cannot flourishIllustrative background for Consumerism: humans cannot flourish ?? "content

Consumerism: humans cannot flourish

  • Consumerism encourages a wasteful approach to the products we make.
  • Many products become disposable and people do not keep products in the long term as there are so many technological advances.

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1Philosophy of Religion

1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato

1.1.1Plato's Understanding of Reality

1.1.2Plato's Theory of Forms

1.1.3Plato's Analogy of the Cave

1.1.4The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave

1.1.5Evaluation of Plato's Theories

1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle

1.2.1Aristotle's Understanding of Reality

1.2.2Aristotle's Four Causes

1.2.3Aristotle's Prime Mover

1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body

1.3.1Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul

1.3.2Metaphysics of Consciousness

1.3.3Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism

1.3.4Materialism - Identity Theory

1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation

1.4.1The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way

1.4.2The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution

1.4.3The Cosmological Argument

1.4.4Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological

1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason

1.5.1The Ontological Argument

1.5.2Criticisms of the Ontological Argument

1.6Religious Experience

1.6.1Introduction to Religious Experience

1.6.2Mystical Experience

1.6.3Conversion Experience

1.6.4Understanding Religious Experience

1.6.5Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity

1.6.6Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People

1.7The Problem of Evil

1.7.1Presentations of the Problems of Evil

1.7.2Discussion Points -

1.8The Nature & Attributes of God

1.8.1Omnipotence

1.8.2Omniscience

1.8.3Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity

1.8.4(Omni)benevolence

1.8.5Eternity & Free Will

1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic

1.9.1Apophatic & Cataphatic Way

1.9.2Symbol

1.9.3Discussion Points: Religious Language

1.10Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective

1.10.1Logical Positivism & Verification Principle

1.10.2Wittgenstein

1.10.3Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare

1.10.4Falsification Symposium: Mitchell

1.10.5Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification

1.10.6Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein

2Religion & Ethics

2.1Natural Law

2.1.1St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law

2.1.2St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts

2.1.3St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods

2.1.4Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good

2.1.5Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine

2.2Situation Ethics

2.2.1Fletcher's Situation Ethics

2.2.2Fletcher's Concept of Conscience

2.2.3Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making

2.2.4Discussion Points - Agape

2.3Kantian Ethics

2.3.1Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty

2.3.2Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative

2.3.3Summum Bonum & Three Postulates

2.3.4Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics

2.4Utilitarianism

2.4.1The Utility Principle

2.4.2Act & Rule Utilitarianism

2.4.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism

2.5Euthanasia

2.5.1Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates

2.5.2Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics

2.5.3Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life

2.5.4Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention

2.6Business Ethics

2.6.1Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing

2.6.2Good Ethics & Globalisation

2.6.3Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics

2.6.4Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism

3Developments in Christian Thought

3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings

3.1.1Human Nature

3.1.2Original Sin & God's Grace

3.2Death & the Afterlife

3.2.1Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory

3.2.2Different Interpretations of the Afterlife

3.2.3Election

3.2.4The Final Judgement

3.2.5Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

3.3Knowledge of God's Existence

3.3.1Natural Knowledge

3.3.2Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ

3.3.3Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church

3.3.4Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God

3.3.5Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God

3.4The Person of Jesus Christ

3.4.1Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God

3.4.2Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom

3.4.3Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator

3.5Christian Moral Principles

3.5.1The Bible & Love

3.5.2Bible, Church & Reason

3.5.3Discussion Points: Christian Ethics

3.5.4Discussion Points: Love & the Bible

3.6Christian Moral Action

3.6.1Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church

3.6.2Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience

3.6.3Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action

3.6.4Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer

3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology

3.7.1Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism

3.7.2Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism

3.7.3Discussion Points: Salvation

3.7.4Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs

3.8Development - Pluralism & Society

3.8.1Development of Multi-Faith Societies

3.8.2Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue

3.8.3The Scriptural Reasoning Movement

3.8.4Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture

3.8.5Discussion Points: Conversion

3.9Gender & Society

3.9.1Waves of Feminism

3.9.2Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles

3.9.3Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family

3.9.4Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender

3.9.5Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family

3.10Gender & Theology

3.10.1Rosemary Radford Ruether

3.10.2Mary Daly

3.10.3Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly

3.10.4Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God

3.11Challenges

3.11.1Secularism - Sigmund Freud

3.11.2Secularism - Richard Dawkins

3.11.3Christianity & Public Life

3.11.4Discussion Points: Spiritual Values

3.11.5Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities

3.11.6Karl Marx

3.11.7Liberation Theology

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Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics

Human Nature