The German Enlightenment & the teaching of business ethics in China Dr Robert Shaw Graduate School of Business Guangdong University of Foreign Studies 28 March 2013

Agenda 1.Business ethics as the development of skills 2.The skills of business ethics 3.Kant & the German Enlightenment 4.Kant & China 6

7 Abstract Although he died over two-hundred years ago, the Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant is still pivotal in business ethics courses globally. His works on ethics - tracts which consider the moral imperative, universal laws, concepts of freedom, moral autonomy, and the use of reason - are indelibly a part of the foundations of modern Western ethics. Consequently, students grapple with Kantian ideas and apply them to business cases. Kant was involved in the development of modern science and he was the first to seriously address the relationship between science and moral decision-making. The presentation argues there is congruence between the German Enlightenment and modern China which reflects in the ethical reasoning of Kant and the people of China.

1. Business ethics as the development of skills 8

9 Curriculum What you teach Confused thinking about Knowledge / understanding / skills Theory / practice How you learn skills

10 Curriculum What you teach The nature of skills Cognitive (thinking) skills Rationality

2. The skills of business ethics 11 The theory of ethics (which you apply to business situations) Classical Greek theory Aristotle’s theory (virtue ethics) Deontology Utilitarianism

12 Cognitive skills Situation Provides the cases & issues Theory Western ethics Chinese ethics

3. Kant & the German Enlightenment 13 Deontology Difficult for students Some leading premises The importance of the Will Moral autonomy (compare heteronomy) The ethics of duty

Immanuel Kant 14 Born 1724 Died 1804

The German Enlightenment Rationality Enlightened public Freedom

Immanuel Kant 16

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4. Kant & China 19 Community Authority Education system Systems of employment

Thank you