The Corporation argues that many corporations behave in an unethical manner that negatively affects the current and future state of this planet, its environment, and those who live within it. This argument is based on the fact that the modern day corpo

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Gouveia

ETHICAL PRACTICES OF THE CORPORATION

Kaelynd Gouveia

Professor Beldan

Philosophy 2074

March 24, 2011

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that The Corporation’s claim that many corporations behave unethically, negatively affecting the current and future state of this planet, it’s environment, and those who live within it is a valid argument. I will first explain in more detail the central argument within The Corporation and will discuss the support given for it. To then further support this argument I will analyze the actions, characteristics, and tendencies of corporations given in the documentary using rights theories, Kantianism, and, Edward Freeman’s theory of Managing for stakeholders. Based on the application of the above ethical theories I will argue that many modern day corporations act unethically in the pursuit of profit.

The Corporation argues that many corporations behave in an unethical manner that negatively affects the current and future state of this planet, it’s environment, and those who live within it. This argument is based on the fact that the modern day corporation has become the dominant institution within our society meaning that it has the power to make large scale impacts from it’s actions. This along with fact that when the corporation is assessed by the DSM-IV test as a person using various case studies it is found to act in a psychopathic manner with disregard to the harm it causes workers, human health, animals, and the biosphere. The combination of the given facts that corporations have the capability of affecting many things and acts in a destructive manner supports the claim that corporations are acting unethically.

Rights theories are ethical theories that revolve around the idea that people have claim to certain rights that should be honoured including basic rights to things like property, work, privacy, or a healthy environment (Beauchamp, Bowie, Arnold 30). These theories also state that the rights people have claim to are are the justifying basis of sets of obligations that must be fulfilled by others (Beauchamp, Bowie, Arnold 30). The rights being discussed, known as human rights, evolved from natural rights, which are claims individuals have against the state. If the state did not honour these rights its legitimacy was questioned (Beauchamp, Bowie, Arnold 31). The theory makes note of two kinds of rights and two kinds of obligations that exist. The rights include positive rights, which are a valid claim on goods or services, and negative rights, which are a right not to be interfered with. Secondly positive obligations require that certain people or institutions provide a benefit or service and negative obligations require that certain people or institutions not interfere with the liberty of others (Beauchamp, Bowie, Arnold 32).

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The Corporation exposes corporations for causing harm to workers in the form of layoffs, factory fires, and sweatshops, and to human health in the form of dangerous products, toxic waste, and pollution. When assessing these situations using rights theories they can be seen as situations involving positive rights and obligations. The workers and humans involved, according to rights theories, have certain claims to rights that create obligations for corporations. These workers and humans should have positive rights to things like job security, workplace safety, freedom from exploitation, a healthy work environment and an environment free of pollution. Created from these positive ...

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