Ethics, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility

The overall goal of the course is to contribute to critical thinking and dialogue on ethical issues, sustainability and social responsibility. It means being able to reflect on and challenge values ​​at three levels: At the individual level, concerning about moral dilemmas, value-conscious leadership and ethical wisdom. At company level, concerning the work environment, freedom of expression, social mission and responsibility towards various stakeholders. At the societal level concerning the relationship between economic growth / value creation and fair distribution, human rights, sustainability and safeguarding the value of nature.

Key academic topics:

• Application of normative philosophical theoretical basis including duty ethics, utility ethics, virtue ethics, and discourse ethics.
• Ethical leadership, moral dilemmas, and the relationship between individual and collective responsibility.
• Sustainable development seen in light of various ethical perspectives.
• Planetary boundaries.
• Technological optimism, circular economy, and green growth.
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• Social contract theory, the business community’s social mission, and corporate legitimacy in society.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

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• Has knowledge of the content of central normative ethical theories and understands their role in ethical argumentation.
• Has knowledge of the UN’s sustainability goals, and how sustainable social and economic activity can take place within the planet’s tolerance limits.
• Knows how companies can be attributed moral responsibility and ensured legitimacy, and different principles for social responsibility, sustainability, and ethical leadership.
• Has knowledge of the ethical problems of the time related to justice, nature, and technological development as a result of economic activity.

Skills:

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• Can ask critical questions about central economic concepts based on theories of ethics, sustainability, and CSR.
• Can discuss and discuss problems related to economic activity with an understanding of different perspectives within ethics, sustainability, and CSR.
• Can integrate accountability and sustainability considerations into business models and practices.

General competence:

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• Is aware of own values and how this affects own behavior and decisions. Understands the importance of ethical issues being fundamental also in economic contexts.
• Can link economic thinking and activity to important social problems and thus contribute constructively in the ethical debate in and about the business community’s value creation and role in society.
• Understands and can reflect on norms and actions that contribute to or oppose sustainability within the planet’s tolerance limits.

Use of digital learning platform, individual based exercises, supervision if needed, self-study. The communication between lecturer and students is organized on a digital platform where learning resources will be shared.