Confucian Philosophy and Corporate Responsibility Essay -- essays rese

Freedom devoid of responsibility would result in the collapse of the social network. It would cause strife among individuals, between individuals and society, and essentially would address to the sacrifice of the future in order to fulfill short-term desires. climax under much scrutiny for allegedly doing just this is todays dominant institution, a legal establishment with pervasive influence on contemporary life the modern corporate enterprise. We live in a world plagued with human exploitation and severe environmental degradation. Many would need that behind this unfair and unsustainable global situation lies the profit-hungry hand of corporate power. incriminate and often found criminally guilty in court of having considerable and often hidden harms, one might ask exactly what a corporations estimable responsibilities ar towards the world in which it functions. Attitudes toward the subject of responsibility are globally and historically diverse, however. Due to cultural dif ferences certain traditions are intemperately concerned with responsibility and societal harmony while others are faraway more preoccupied with free choice and individual rights. Looking to Confucianism, the doctrine of Confucius (or King fu-tzu), one can see a ism that places a great deal of emphasis on human responsibility. Confucius is, in fact, the some influential thinker in human history if influence were to be measured by the number of people who have lived in unity with a philosophers vision. (Ames, 28) Turning to the scriptures outlining the teachings of this Chinese sage who lived over 2,500 days ago, it would be unproblematic to prove that the modern corporation has been and continues to be wrong by Confucian standards. That is not the purpose of this essay, however. This essay will research concept of corporate institutions and their ethical accountability using Confucian philosophy a guide.For the purposes of this essay, focus will be given to the Confucian anale cta and interpretations of it. This compilation of quotes, conversations and anecdotes is also referred to as The Lunyu and remains the primary source muniment of Confucian philosophy. Interestingly, despite being revered as Chinas first and great teacher, there is no coherent system of thought laid rarify by Confucius himself. Much like Socrates, Buddha and Jesus Christ, Confucius many disciples are entirely... ...gree with.Whether it is receivable to innate predispositions or learned characteristics, human beings, despite admittedly wild behaviors, are also moral beings. We are characterized by our freedom of choice, awareness of abstract thought and largely by a sense of responsibility. As a species we are not solely interested in the act upon of an action, but also its motives and its consequences. One could argue that attaining a manageable eternal sleep between action and responsibility has been a fundamental issue in all past and present traditions and philosophies. In a sense, whether a concrete proposal for universal Confucian ethic is successfully put in place is not of primary importance. The significance is found in the ethical attention of the modern day corporations and the consumerist world that supports them , shifting in a fundamental way from rights-based morality, to a more sustainable, responsibility-emphasized ethic. While perhaps a corporation itself has is devoid of moral obligations, those who function within it, along with the open supporters of it are not. In and contributing to the harmony of the universe, Confucian ethics will have an instrumental role to play.