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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. discourse ethics and Deepwater Horizon
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

9. 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

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