Business Ethics is an Oxymoron Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Ethics is an Oxymoron - Essay Example Liss then tries to justify this by saying that, these lies are not simply lies but the rules of business hence making it appear as if a business cannot thrive in the absence of lies. Such and similar comments, which a substantial number ascribe to have given rise to a saying that business ethics is an oxymoron. Focus on this particular branch of business studies can be accredited to recent business scandals (Nyberg 2008, p.587). In order to understand that, business ethics is an oxymoron, it is imperative that one defines the meaning of the terms both from a semantic and pragmatic point of view. Semantically they are not opposites hence the oxymoron cannot be an overtone. However, when the contextual pragmatics is taken into consideration, one cannot fail to notice some reasonable degree of logic in the assumption. Business ethics are defined as a critical and structured examination of how people engaged in business should behave in relation to their customers, neighboring society, t he environment labor and any other individuals or institutions likely to be influenced by their action or inactions. This point of view is, {"status":"TOOLBAR_READY", "toolbar":206720000} however, not a true representative of the fats on the ground since business and ethics do not always contradict each other. Nonetheless, several aspects of the business of making the profit directly contradict what is considered moral, or ethical. This paper will discuss what aspects of business practice contradict business ethics using various examples to show the polarity that sometimes exists, but with the view of demonstrating that business and ethics do not have to be in contradiction. This is so since ethics are in existence not to make businesses profitable, but to make it fair for all stakeholders including consumers, the society, employees and competing for business.