Integrative Economic Ethics
Foundations of a Civilized Market Economy

An analysis of foundational issues concerning the relationship between ethics and the market economy.

Peter Ulrich (Author), James Fearns (Translated by)

9780521877961, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 March 2008

500 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm, 0.93 kg

Review of the hardback: 'Peter Ulrich's book, Integrative Economic Ethics, is most timely and prescient. The field of economics has sometimes imagined itself as a science governed by pure rationality. Yet economics has to do with human relationships that create, sustain, or destroy markets. As such, economics is inherently normative. Ulrich's focus on economic ethics addresses this concept critically and directly. This book firmly closes the alleged gap between economics and ethics by questioning that separation in the literature and by presenting sustained arguments for the concept of economic ethics.' Patricia Werhane, Ruffin Professor of Business Ethics, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia

Integrative Economic Ethics is a highly original work that progresses through a series of rational and philosophical arguments to address foundational issues concerning the relationship between ethics and the market economy. Rather than accepting market competition as a driver of ethical behaviour, the author shows that modern economies need to develop ethical principles that guide market competition, thus moving business ethics into the realms of political theory and civic rationality. This book was in its fourth edition in the original German in 2008, this English translation of Peter Ulrich's development of a fresh integrative approach to economic ethics will be of interest to all scholars and advanced students of business ethics, economics, and social and political philosophy.

List of figures
Preface
Translator's note
Introduction: orientation in economic-ethical thinking
Part I. Fundamental Concepts of Modern Ethics and the Approach of Integrative Economic Ethics: 1. The phenomenon of human morality: the normative logic of interpersonal relations
2. The moral point of view: philosophical developmental lines of rational ethics
3. Morality and economic rationality: integrative economic ethics as the rational ethics of economic activity
Part II. Reflections on the Foundations of Economic Ethics I: A Critique of Economism: 4. 'Inherent necessity' of competition? A critique of economic determinism
5. 'Morality' of the market? A critique of economic reductionism
Part III. Reflections on the Foundations of Economic Ethics II: Rational Economic Activity and the Lifeworld: 6. The question of meaning: economic activity and the good life
7. The question of legitimation: economic activity and the just social life
Part IV. A Topology of Economic Ethics: The 'Sites' of Morality in Economic Life: 8. Economic citizens' ethics
9. Regulatory ethics
10. Corporate ethics
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]