Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Christian Metaphysics and Business Ethics: A Systematic Approach

  • Reference work entry
Handbook of the Philosophical Foundations of Business Ethics

Abstract

This chapter discusses the contribution of Christian metaphysics to the concept of business ethics and puts forward the following theses: (1) Christian metaphysics supports the ontological assumption that there is a God, and reasonable theistic ethics has the concept of God, which is the ideal observer regarded as actual (“moral realism”). Despite this moral realism in theistic ethics, epistemically the point of “moral realism” does not obviate the need for rational deliberation about ethical issues. (2) We have to distinguish between the level of justification, the level of application, and the level of implementation. The business of comprehensive doctrines like Christian metaphysics is primarily located on levels of justification and application. (3) There always has been, and there still is, a certain, limited impact of religion(s) on the economic sphere. As a result, the global economic system has become “pluralistic capitalism.” (4) If these effects of religion(s) on the economy are (economically) productive ones, their impact on business activities becomes “spiritual capital.”

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Griffin David R. ([2], p. 12) with reference to the theory of religion by process philosopher Alfred North Whitehead; see Whitehead Alfred N. [3].

  2. 2.

    Whitehead Alfred N. ([3], p. 59). In contrast to the subject matter of natural or social sciences this deepest reality of the universe assumed by religions cannot be proven empirically, so biologist Stephen Jay Gould compares theology with “exobiology, that great subject without a subject matter (only theology may exceed us in this)” (Gould, Stephen Jay [4]).

  3. 3.

    Mackie JL ([19], p. 48) “Since I think that theism cannot be defended, I do not regard this as any threat to my argument” ([19], p. 48).

  4. 4.

    See Rawls, John ([25], pp. 185–192). But, in contrast to Rawls, I don’t think that a rational and impartial spectator necessarily leads to utilitarianism.

  5. 5.

    cf. Habermas, Juergen [32] speaks of moral justification- and application-discourses.

  6. 6.

    See Whitehead’s definition of “cosmology”: “Also, it must be one of the motives of a complete cosmology [or metaphysics] to construct a system of ideas which brings the aesthetic, moral, and religious interests into relation with those concepts of the world which have their origin in natural science” ([15], p. xiii).

References

  1. Searle J (1998/1999) Mind, language and society. Basic Books, New York, p 33

    Google Scholar 

  2. Griffin DR (2001) Reenchantment without supernaturalism. A process philosophy of religion, Cornell Studies in the philosophy of religion. Cornell University Press, Ithaca/London

    Google Scholar 

  3. Whitehead AN (1926/2007) Religion in the making. Lowell lectures, 1926, 5th Printing. Fordham University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gould SJ (1980/1992) The panda’s thumb. More reflections in natural history. W. W. Norton, New York/London, p 225

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rawls J (1993/2005) Political liberalism (expanded edn). Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rorty R (1995) Toward a post-metaphysical culture. Harv Rev Philos 5(Spring 1995):58–66

    Google Scholar 

  7. Habermas J (1992/1994) Post-metaphysical thinking. Between metaphysics and the critique of reason, New edn. Polity, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  8. Popper KR (1985/1985) Conjectures and refutations. The growth of scientific knowledge, 4th edn. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London/Henley, p 197

    Google Scholar 

  9. Popper K, Eccles JC (1977/2003) The self and its brain. An argument for interactionism. Routledge, New York, p 442

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Popper KR (1976) Unended quest. An intellectual autobiography. Open Court, La Salle, p 171f

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hersh R (1997) What is mathematics really? Oxford University Press, New York, p 12

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mcginn C (Interview with Kuhn RL). http://www.closertotruth.com/video-profile/Why-is-There-Anything-At-All-Colin-McGinn-/797

  13. Quine WVO (1995) From stimulus to science. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, p 14

    Google Scholar 

  14. Quine WVO (1981) Theories and things. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, p 14f (emphasis mine)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Whitehead AN, Griffin DR, Sherburne DW (eds) (1929/1978) Process and reality. An essay in cosmology. Gifford lectures delivered in the University of Edinburgh during the session 1927–28. Free Press, New York/London

    Google Scholar 

  16. http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/potus-notes/2008/Oct/24/he-found-flaw/

  17. Weinberg S (1999) Cosmic questions. Steven Weinberg and John Polkinghorne – an Exchange. www.counterbalance.org/cqinterv/swjp-frame.html. Accessed 14 Mar 2012

  18. Weber M, Gerth HH, Mill CW (eds) (1948/1991) From Max Weber. Essay in sociology, New edition. Routledge, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mackie JL (1977/1990) Ethics. Inventing right and wrong. Penguin, London/New York

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rawls J (1980) Kantian constructivism in moral theory. J Philos 77:515–572, p 519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Harman G (1977) The nature of morality. An introduction to ethics. Oxford University Press, New York, p 11

    Google Scholar 

  22. Einstein A, cit. Dawkins R (2006) The god delusion. Black Swan, London, p 259

    Google Scholar 

  23. Griffin DR (2007) Whitehead’s radically different postmodern philosophy: an argument for its contemporary relevance, SUNY series in philosophy. State University of New York Press, New York, p 139

    Google Scholar 

  24. Brandt R (1959) Ethical theory. The problems of normative and critical ethics. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, p 173

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rawls J (1971) A theory of justice (original edition). Belknap Press of Harvard University, Cambridge, MA/London

    Google Scholar 

  26. Hartshorne C (1984) Omnipotence and other theological mistakes. State University of New York Press, Albany

    Google Scholar 

  27. Aiken HD (1958) God and evil. A study of some relations between faith and morals. Ethics 68(2):77–97, p 82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Nowell-Smith PH (1966) Morality–religious and secular. In: Ramsey IT (ed) Christian ethics and contemporary philosophy. SCM Press, London, pp 95–112, p 97

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hartshorne C (1984) Omnipotence and other theological mistakes. Albany, State University of New York Press

    Google Scholar 

  30. Luhmann N (2012) Introduction to systems theory. Polity, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  31. Luhmann N (1996) Social systems. Stanford University Press, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  32. Habermas J (1995) Justification and application. Remarks on discourse ethics. Polity, Cambridge/Malden

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wieland J (1999) Die Ethik der Governance (Institutionelle und Evolutorische Ökonomik, Bd. 9). Metropolis, Marburg, p S. 23 (translation mine)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Elster J (1992) Local justice. How institutions allocate scarce goods and necessary burdens. Russell Sage, Cambridge, p 15

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sen A (2009) The idea of justice. Penguin Books, London

    Google Scholar 

  36. Commons JR (1996) Selected essays, Vol 2 (Rutherford M, Samuels WJ (eds)). Routledge, London, pp 453–473, p 454 (emphasis mine). Original: Commons JR (1932) The problem of correlating law, economics, and ethics. Wis Law Rev 8(1932):3–26

    Google Scholar 

  37. Williamson OE (2009) Transaction cost economics: the natural progression. Am Econ Rev 100(June 2010):673–690, p 673

    Google Scholar 

  38. Williamson O (1994) Transaction cost economics and organization theory. In: Smelser NJ, Swedberg R (eds) The Handbook of Economic Sociology. Russell Sage, New York, pp 77–107, p 97

    Google Scholar 

  39. Friedman M (1970/2007) The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. In: Zimmerli WC, Richter K, Holzinger M (eds) Corporate ethics and corporate governance. Springer, Berlin, pp 173–178, p 173f (emphasis mine). Original: Friedman M (1970) The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. The New York Times Magazine, 13 Sept 1970, pp 32–33, pp 122–126

    Google Scholar 

  40. Friedman M (1970/2007) The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. In: Zimmerli WC, Richter K, Holzinger M (eds) Corporate ethics and corporate governance. Springer, Berlin, p 173f (emphasis mine)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Weber M (1904–1905/2002) The Protestant ethic and the “spirit” of capitalism and other writings, Penguin twentieth-century classics. Penguin Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  42. Weber M (1915/1968) The religion of China. Confucianism and Taoism (trans: Gerth HH (ed)). Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  43. Troeltsch E (1913/1924) Religion und Wirtschaft. In: von Strich F (ed) Deutsche Akademiereden. Weyer & Jessen, München, pp S.319–S.341, S.322f

    Google Scholar 

  44. Berger PL (1986) The capitalist revolution. Fifty propositions about prosperity, equality, and liberty. Basic Books, New York, p 98

    Google Scholar 

  45. North DC (1990) Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York/Port Chester/Melbourne/Sydney, p 36

    Book  Google Scholar 

  46. Buchanan JM (1995) Economic science and cultural diversity. Kyklos 48:193–200, p 199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Mccleary RM, Barro RJ (2006) Religion and economy. J Econ Perspect 20(2/2006):49–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Zak P, Knack S (2001) Trust and growth. Econ J 111:295–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Kim D, Fisher D, Mccalman D (2009) Modernism, christianity, and business ethics. A worldview perspective. J Bus Ethics 90(1):115–121, p 115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kurpis LHV, Beqiri MS, Helgeson JG (2007) The effects of commitment to moral self-improvement and religiosity on ethics of business students. J Bus Ethics 80(2007):447–463

    Google Scholar 

  51. Emerson TLN, Mckinney JA (2010) Importance of religious beliefs to ethical attitudes in business. J Religion Bus Ethics 1(2):1–15, p 8

    Google Scholar 

  52. Weaver GR, Agle BR (2002) Religiosity and ethical behavior in organizations. A symbolic interactionist perspective. Acad Manage Rev 27(2002):77–97, p 93

    Google Scholar 

  53. Becker GS (1993) Nobel lecture: the economic way of looking at behavior. J Pol Econ 101:385–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Harsanyi JC (1976) Essays on ethics, social behavior, and scientific explanation, vol 12, Theory and decision library. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, p IX

    Book  Google Scholar 

  55. Ariely D (2008) Predictably irrational. The hidden forces that shape our decisions. HarperCollins, Hammersmith

    Google Scholar 

  56. http://www.manager-magazin.de/magazin/artikel/0,2828,632732,00.html. Video: http://www.spiegel.de/video/video-1009086.html

  57. Skilling J cited McLean B, Elkind P (2003) The smartest guys in the room. The amazing rise and scandalous fall of Enron. Penguin, New York, p xxi

    Google Scholar 

  58. Blankfein LC cited Arlidge J (2009) I’m doing “God’s work”. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs. The Sunday Times, 8 Nov 2009. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6907681.ece

  59. Hayek FAV (1968/2002) Competition as a discovery procedure. Q J Austrian Econ 5(3):9–23, p 9

    Google Scholar 

  60. Hayek FAV (1973) Law, legislation and liberty. A new statement of the liberal principles of justice and political economy, vol I, Rules and order. Routledge & Kegan, London, p 61

    Google Scholar 

  61. Pope John XXIII (1961) (Encyclical) Mater et Magistra, No. 219

    Google Scholar 

  62. Kersting W (2000) Theorien der sozialen Gerechtigkeit. Metzler, Stuttgart/Weimar, p 167f

    Google Scholar 

  63. Buchanan JM (1959) Positive economics, welfare economics, and political economy. J Law Econ 2:124–138, p 129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. The Love of Money. Episode 1: The Bank that Bust the World (BBC 2009); see http://www.tradeitdontdateit.com/bbc-the-love-of-money-episode-1-the-bank-that-bust-the-world/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0N_FX0kUMI&feature=related. Accessed 14 Mar 2012

  65. Zweig J (2007) Your money & your brain. Simon & Schuster, New York, p 6

    Google Scholar 

  66. Yunus M (2010) Building social business. The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity’s most pressing needs. PublicAffairs, New York, p xv

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Catholic Theology and Business Ethics, University of Hohenheim, D-70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Prof. Michael Schramm (Faculty of Business)

Authors
  1. Prof. Michael Schramm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Schramm .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Peter Löscher-Stiftungslehrstuhl für Wirtschaftsethik, Technische Universität München, München, Germany

    Christoph Luetge

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this entry

Cite this entry

Schramm, M. (2013). Christian Metaphysics and Business Ethics: A Systematic Approach. In: Luetge, C. (eds) Handbook of the Philosophical Foundations of Business Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1494-6_70

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1494-6_70

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-1493-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-1494-6

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation