Aristotle on Business Ethics
How much emphasis is placed on morality and ethics when involved in business? Most will answer with the mindset that ethics and morality are essential in business; however do they reflect their answer in their actions? This question of the importance of morality and ethics in business applies to more than just the world's businessmen and women. The minds of millions of people all over can relate to this subject of business ethics because it is simply one's interaction with money-making. It is not unusual for such business-involved individuals to admit that the decisions made by he or she are based on benefits, especially profit. For the great philosopher, Aristotle, benefits in business do not equate to happiness.
The ideal life is one which is full of happiness. People today are living under the false impression that happiness may be achieved through wealth. This is an understandable misconception; look at the wealthy celebrities.
Portrait of Aristoteles. Pentelic marble, copy of ...
Detail of The School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio...
Journal of Business EthicsHappiness looks easily attainable when one is worth 48 million dollars and is able to use that money on whatever he or she desires. When one's desires are met, is he or she then happy? Is it even true happiness? Probably not since satisfied desires are only bringing more fulfillment. Aristotle proves this belief of wealth being the key to eudemonia with his idea of what "good" is. His philosopher belief is that everything that human beings pursue is good, whether it is an activity or product of an activity. These activities or products which are pursued are either for the sake of it or the sake of something else. Aristotle teaches that the one thing that is pursued entirely for the sake of it is eudemonia, or happiness. Wealth is sought for because of what it allows as it can be...