What are your ideas about the pursuit of profit. More specifically, tell us whether, in your view, there could be anything unethical or morally problematic about the commitment to maximizing profit in business.

What are your ideas about the pursuit of profit. More specifically, tell us whether, in your view, there could be anything unethical or morally problematic about the commitment to maximizing profit in business. Before you post your response consider the following points: Can the pursuit of profit by companies (big corporations or small firms) be ethically justifiable? If so, on what grounds?Or, in general, is the pursuit of profit unethical? One easy answer is this: Of course, the pursuit of profit is ethically problematic whenever something clearly unethical is done, for example, when innocent people suffer, child labor is involved, or when workers are exploited. Moreover, if a business profits from some egregious, unjust and harmful activities, such as selling human beings or selling poisonous food, then that is obviously morally wrong. It’s clearly wrong when the company commits crimes, fraud or when environment is destroyed in the name of profit maximization. But perhaps we can dispense with stating the obvious exceptions, and instead address more philosophically interesting issues. For example, let’s say a given company is lawful and does not commit any crimes but by sheer luck rather than hard work or innovation, it accumulates enormous profits. Should we say such “windfall profits” are well deserved and ethically justifiable? You may also think about whether the pursuit of profit should or should not be the most important objective of a firm, whether profit should be reinvested or kept. You may also ask yourself, if the pursuit of profit is wrong when the profit and the surplus is unfairly distributed among the workers and the managers of the company? Perhaps the morality of profits depends on the end results. For example, maybe we can argue that maximizing profits is a good thing when this activity somehow ends up increasing the welfare of a society, stimulating production efficiency, driving technological innovation, and providing entrepreneurial incentives. Perhaps the pursuit of profit purely for the sake of profit and nothing else is in general shallow and far from admirable a goal? Or, perhaps it’s morally neutral? Remember, your assignment is to write a compelling and thoughtful paragraph. Simply give yourself time to contemplate the issue. Try to take a side so that your classmates can easily understand your position.

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