Corporate Responsibility and Ethics

The pressure on business to take social responsibility has increased the last few decades. Globalization and other structural changes in society and economic life are parts of the reason for this development. Does a strengthening of corporate power mean an increased social responsibility for business? Or is the business realm free from moral responsibility in the pursuit of pure economic gains? This course aims at discussing the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from a philosophical and ethical perspective, focusing on the relationship between ethical reasoning and economic rationality.

Knowledge

The course will give the students an overview of current debates and normative theories on the social responsibility of business.

Skills

The course will provide the students with the ability to argue for and to criticize different normative theories and views regarding the social responsibility of business.

Lectures and seminars.

In order to sit the exam, students must submit and get approved one written assignment (max 1500 words/3-4 pages, 12-point Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing). The written assignment is only given in the semester the course is taught.