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Reactionary Essay To If Aristotle Ran General Motors, By Tom Morris

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Introduction

In the book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Tom Morris argues that the teachings of the ancients can and should be applied to today's corporation. His message is that the four virtues - truth, beauty, goodness, and unity - form the foundation of human excellence. Putting them into practice leads not only to self-fulfillment, but ultimately to an open, nurturing, and ethical workplace that is more productive and successful in the long-term. The purpose of this essay is to examine how Morris treats the system of ethics in relation to these four virtues.
Ethics and Big Business It's difficult not to be cynical about how “big business” treats the subject of ethics in today's world. In many corporations, where the …show more content…

However, after reading further, I concluded that Morris' statement has a great deal of merit. He infers that this type of query is actually involved with “self-interest, which is not the same thing as selfishness” (Morris p. 117). Asking this type of question can really mean that we are looking at the effect something might have on our immediate or long-term personal fulfillment, financial security, etc. Doing the right thing is not always going to affect us in some positive way immediately. In fact, we could suffer short-term negative effects by electing to do the right thing. But the long-term benefits to our personal fulfillment will nearly always be positive, because doing the right thing brings blessings from the Lord. God honors right living. Exhibiting spiritual health by behaving morally and ethically in all our dealings (both personal and in business), injects harmony into our lives. Morris believes that harmony is at the heart of ethics. Spiritually healthy people create socially harmonious relationships just by the very act of doing the right thing. My grandmother taught me that “there is no excuse for bad manners,” and I have taken this little piece of wisdom with me throughout life. People in today's world seem to have thrown away manners and have forgotten that common decency, basic kindness, concern, respect and courtesy can not only open doors of opportunity, it literally defines their

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