Ethics Theory and Business Practice Discourse Ethics – Part One Some Features of Discourse Ethics

aims to specify the democratic nature of discourse ethics to explain how discourse ethics theory appeals to ethical consensus as a basis for evaluating right and wrong to explain how discourse ethics envisages the achievement of ethical consensus through dialectical opposition

discourse ethics an alternative to ethical absolutism and ethical relativism which goes ‘Beyond Objectivism and Relativism’ (Bernstein, 1983) something is ethical if those who are affected by it agree that it is ethical and something is unethical if those who are affected by it agree that it is unethical

emphasis on discourse discourse: ‘written or spoken communication or debate’ (Oxford English Dictionary) discourse ethics: an approach which relies on written or spoken communication or debate to define ethical right and wrong

a particular kind of democracy conventional (liberal) democracy emphasises people’s right to: hold their views register their views discourse-ethics style (discursive) democracy also emphasises the importance of: exchanging views developing new perspectives

emphasis on ethical consensus as opposed to consensus about interests and preferences appeals to standards which operate at a deeper level than that of interests and preferences which enables evaluation of the ethical claims of respective of interests and preferences discourse ethics aspires to consensus at that deeper level See Lecture Exercise 7.1a. This could be used to encourage students to think about the contrast between statements of personal preference and ethical statements, which usually show greater consideration for the interests of others.

the merits of dialectical opposition dialectic: the exchange of opposing perspectives and the consequent movement to a further perspective which is an improvement on either of the earlier perspectives the pragmatic benefit of the expression of opposition every ethical perspective may have something important to add how dialectical opposition can enhance the quality of consensus

discourse ethics and Deepwater Horizon www.youtube.com/watch?v=gExZYxtdzrU discourse involving a community of stakeholders (or their representatives) which seeks to reach consensus about what is the ethically right thing for BP to do to which each participant’s perspective is likely to have something positive to add in which participants should be prepared to modify their own viewpoint in response to what others say in which opposition is welcomed as a productive resource that will ultimately enhance the quality of BP’s response see Video Activity 7.1

key points discourse ethics considers something to be ethical insofar as those who are affected by it agree that it is ethical discourse ethics places a great deal of emphasis on communication and debate about ethics, in which people share their views and develop new alternatives discourse ethics highlights the merits of dialectical opposition in debate

references Bernstein, R.J. (1983) Beyond Objectivism and Relativism: Science, Hermeneutics and Praxis. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.