The secularization of natural law and the theory of business ethics

Business Ethics is a relatively new concept in which the theory of the Categorical Imperative, as postulated by Kant, who said that “to a bloodless category, a categorical imperative of a purely formal kind of universal application but without material content” plays a critical role. Utilitarianism or moral philosophy also plays a great role in current business ethics and this view is spearheaded by John Stuart Mill who said “one simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual by way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion”. Utilitarianism is essentially teleological. According to utilitarian criteria one ought to do that which will result in the best ends, do the most good or maximize utility. These two views are widely held in the world of business ethics and greatly influence contemporary business conduct. The 19th Century German philologist who studied theories of culture and language theories, and who is renowned for concepts such as ‘the Will to power’ and ‘the Death of God’, is surprisingly omitted from literature dealing with the concept of business ethics. This is uncanny given that he wrote a dozen works dealing with moral philosophy. He was the most celebrated and abused philosopher of his era and numerous apocryphal myths and misconceptions surround Nietzsche’s work. By encouraging more direct engagement with Nietzsche’s work, this article strives to examine Nietzsche’s ideas and questions if these would be more suitable as a means of explaining the business world. This article in which the approach taken is descriptive-analytical seeks to evaluate the potentially huge contribution Nietzsche could make in the field of business ethics and also seeks to make his work better known to management scholars.