Abstract

Various scholars have developed approaches to business ethics. In the secular sphere, the approaches include utilitarianism, deontology, virtue, care, contractarianism, and stakeholder, among others. In the religious sphere, scholars explore what the major religions of the world have to say regarding the conduct of business. Thus, we encounter literatures on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Arab, and Confucian approaches to business ethics. In this paper, I will talk about a relatively new approach called Critical Business Ethics. This approach is mainly an attempt to bring Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School, structuralism, post-structuralism, and postmodernism among others, into the field of business ethics. However, it must not be seen as the approach to end all approaches but another way of looking at ethics and the conduct of business. In other words, the traditional approaches have already contributed a lot since the birthing of business ethics. The time is ripe to continue the march of reason and to not let business ethics be stunted or ossified. I think that even if there were difficulties that a critical approach would confront, it would always remain a worthwhile endeavor. Thus, those who will teach Business Ethics and Social Responsibility must create opportunities and look for small pockets and openings when and where an alternative approach may thrive.