Alternative Approaches to Applied Ethics: A Response to Carson's Critique

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Department

Philosophy and Religion

School

Humanities

Abstract

Tom Carson's recent paper on "Deception and Withholding Information in Sales" contains a critique of my contribution to sales ethics. In this response I outline the approach I develop in two earlier papers and address the four criticisms Carson makes. These criticisms are largely based on a misunderstanding of my position. I suggest that our fundamentally different approaches to applied ethics may lie at the root of Carson's misunderstanding. Carson uses what I call a theory-application model in which the search for justification in terms of fundamental rules is central, while I attempt to contextualize ethical judgments and consider alternative ways of structuring social roles. In contrasting these approaches I raise the question of which way of doing applied ethics is likely to be more fruitful.

Publication Title

Business Ethics Quarterly

Volume

12

Issue

1

First Page

73

Last Page

82

Find in your library

Share

COinS