BUSINESS ETHICS

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi, who inculcated and lived a value-based life despite the acknowledged human limitations to live a moral life to its complete perfection, delineates seven social sins.  These sins, as he has listed them in the Young India, are the following: 1) Politics without principle, 2) Wealth without work, 3) Pleasure without conscience, 4) Knowledge without character, 5) Commerce without morality, 6) Science without humanity, and 7) worship without sacrifice.Two of these sins, the second and the fifth, get special attention in the context of the present issue of the Journal of Dharma on Business Ethics.  Indeed, it is a recognized aspect of social ethics that business – with all its intricate dynamics – ought to be conducted in an ethical manner.  Absence of morality in any human activity will take away its humane and just character altogether.  Even if such business deals were to result in amassing disproportionate wealth for an individual and an economic boom for the whole society, Gandhi would consider this to be without any value and virtue.  Wealth in itself is not bad; but acquiring wealth for its own sake, that too by unjust means, would go against the spirit of morality, as, according to Gandhi, the means and the ends are inherently related to each other. Thus, the role of business in enhancing human life at different levels shall be fulfilled only if various means adopted by the parties involved in it are basically humane and, thus, moral.