Abstract
The aim of this paper is to critically evaluate the thesis that ethics counselors constitute a new priesthood in the pejorative sense of this term. In defense of the thesis, an account is given of the diverse variety of fundamental ideas about ethics or morality. The underlying argument is simply that there is such a diversity of opinion about so many fundamental issues that most ethical appraisals, especially in committees, are probably very shallow and barely warranted. Following this negative work, an attempt is made to try to find some positive benefits from the work of ethics counselors. Some potential benefits are identified, but there is a need for empirical research in order to construct a more persuasive case for such work. In the penultimate section of the paper I addressed some of my own second thoughts about the discussion and some provocative suggestions that friends gave me about earlier drafts.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
James, W. 1977 (originally published 1891), 'The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life', in J. J. McDermott (eds.), The Writings of William James: A Comprehensive Edition (University of Chicago Press, Chicago), pp. 610-629.
Lakatos, I.: 1968, 'Changes in the Problem of Inductive Logic', in I. Lakatos (ed.), The Problem of Inductive Logic (North-Holland Pub. Co., Amsterdam), p 315-417.
Lewis, C. I.: 1946, An Analysis of Knowledge and Valuation (Open Court Publishing Co., LaSalle)
Michalos, A. C. 1970, 'Decision-making in Committees', American Philosophical Quarterly 7(2), 91-106.
Michalos, A. C. 1978, Foundations of Decision-Making (Canadian Library of Philosophy, Ottawa).
Michalos, A. C.: 1980, 'Philosophy of Science: Historical, Social and Value Aspects', in P. T. Durbin (eds.), The Culture of Science, Technology and Medicine (The Free Press, New York), pp. 197-281.
Michalos, A. C.: 1980a, North American Social Report, Vol. 2, Crime, Justice and Politics (D. Reidel, Dordrecht).
Michalos, A. C.: 1980b, 'A Reconsideration of the Idea of a Science Court', in P. T. Durbin (ed.), Research in Philosophy and Technology, Vol. 3 (JAI Press, Boston), pp. 10-28.
Michalos, A. C.: 1981, 'Technology Assessment, Facts and Values', in P. T. Durbin (ed.), Research in Philosophy and Technology, Vol. 4 (JAI Press, Boston), pp. 59-81.
Michalos, A. C.: 1981a, North American Social Report, Vol.3, Science, Education and Recreation (D. Reidel, Dordrecht).
Michalos, A. C.: 1987, 'Moral Responsibility in Business, or, Fourteen Unsuccessful Ways to Pass the Buck', in D. C. Poff andW. J. Waluchow (eds.), Business Ethics in Canada (Prentice-Hall Canada, Scarborough), pp. 12-25. Reprinted in Michalos, 1995.
Michalos, A. C.: 1992, 'Ethical Considerations in Evaluation', Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation 7, 61-75. Reprinted in Michalos, 1995.
Michalos, A. C.: 1995, A Pragmatic Approach to Business Ethics (Sage Pub., Thousand Oaks).
Perry, R. B.: 1926, General Theory of Value (Harvard University Press, Cambridge).
Poff, D. C. and W. Waluchow (eds.): 1987, Business Ethics in Canada (Prentice-Hall of Canada, Toronto).
Reichenbach, H.: 1949, The Theory of Probability (University of California Press, Berkeley).
Shaw, B.: 1931, Pen Portraits and Reviews (Constable and Co., London).
Skidelsky, R.: 1993, Interests and Obsessions (Macmillan, London)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Michalos, A.C. Ethics Counselors as a New Priesthood. Journal of Business Ethics 29, 3–17 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006434623769
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006434623769