The problem with business ethics courses is that all too often they’re taught by business faculty. And ethics is, after all, a field of philosophy. And with all due respect to my business colleagues, philosophy faculty are far better qualified to teach ethics than business faculty. As far as I can see, business ethics when …
Category: business
business
Dec 27 2016
Telling our Members of Parliament How to Dress
So I recently found this on the Parliament of Canada website: While there is no Standing Order setting down a dress code for Members participating in debate, [84] Speakers have ruled that to be recognized to speak in debate, on points of order or during Question Period, tradition and practice require all Members, male or female, …
Aug 18 2016
Blood & Oil
[since I’m at it — posting about tv that happened oh, a year ago…see June 1 post] About a year ago, the weather reports became dramatic. Forecasters started talking about “extreme weather events” with voices and gestures that rivalled sports game commentary, making droughts, wildfires, floods, tornados, and high temperatures all so—exciting. My god, I …
Jun 23 2014
No Advertising in Public Space
I once read a sci fi novel in which holographic ads suddenly appeared in front of you, ‘blocking’ your way, almost continuously, as you made your way down a city street. It made me imagine people paid by perfume companies wandering through the streets assailing me with sample sprays… I am a strong advocate of …
Nov 07 2013
Have you noticed the way the weather is being reported lately?
Have you noticed the way the weather is being reported lately? Climate change, specifically global warming, as evidenced by the dramatic increase in severe storms and the decrease in polar ice…they’re making it entertaining. Entertaining, for gawdsake. Commentators refer to “extreme storms” — making them sound all exciting and daring, like “extreme sports”. Another opens …
Jun 27 2013
Canada Day – Are you sure you want to celebrate?
Before you get all patriotic and fly your little Canadian flags in celebration of Canada Day and, presumably, of being Canadian, think about it. Are you really proud to be:
Jun 11 2013
Air Bands and Power Point
I still remember the feeling I had when I saw my first air band performance. It was a sick kind of feeling. I hadn’t known what an air band was. The announcement came over the p.a. at my school-for-the-day, and I dutifully shepherded the class to the gym. Then I watched, incredulous, as group after …
Jun 02 2013
The Futility of Teaching Business Ethics or Why Our World Will End
There are four reasons why teaching ethics to business students is an exercise in futility. 1. The profit motive trumps everything. As long as this is the case, there’s no point in teaching students the intricacies of determining right and wrong. Whether something is morally acceptable or not is simply irrelevant to them. It might …
May 04 2013
Ethics without Philosophers
Could someone without a business degree become a marketing consultant? Then how is it that people without philosophy degrees are becoming ethics consultants? [1] Is it that people don’t know that Ethics is a branch of Philosophy just as Marketing is a branch of Business? Doubtful. Is it just the typical male overstatement of one’s …
Apr 19 2013
People Skills
I’ve always been rather proud of not having any ‘people skills’. Of not being able to ‘talk to people’, smooth things over, talk them out of their way of seeing things, talk them over to my way, persuade, influence, manipulate, control. No wonder supervisors, salespeople, and customer relations people need good people skills. And no …
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