Christian Perspectives on Business Ethics (DT3260C)

Content

This unit examines moral issues in the contemporary business world from both a corporate and individual perspective. Drawing upon Catholic Social Teaching and other Christian perspectives, the unit will look at issues relating to ethical conduct in business, Christian leadership values, corporate social responsibility, globalisation and its ethical dimensions, sustainability, and the rights and expectations of the consumer.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

This unit is designed to have wide appeal. There are no prerequisite units. Knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching would be advantageous but is not essential.

Pedagogy

Option A: Learners will engage with weekly lecture input, directed reading activities, facilitated peer discussions, electronic resources and formative feedback to achieve the learning outcomes. OR Option B: Learners will engage in intensive mode with lecture input, directed reading activities, facilitated peer discussion, electronic resources and formative feedback, to achieve the learning outcomes. OR Option C: Learners will engage in mixed-mode learning through 36 engagement hours (24 hours on-campus mode plus 12 hours online mode), directed reading activities, personal study through electronic resources and assessment tasks, to achieve the learning outcomes.

Indicative Bibliography

• Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by J.A.K. Thomson. London: Penguin Classics, 2004.
• Benedict XVI. Caritas in Veritate. Encyclical Letter. 2009.
• Betta, Michela. Ethicmentality – Ethics in Capitalist Economy, Business and Society. Heidelberg: Springer, 2016.
• Bowie, Norman E. Business Ethics in the 21st Century. Heidelberg: Springer, 2013.
• Flynn, Gabriel, ed. Leadership and Business Ethics. Heidelberg: Springer, 2008.
• Francis. Evangelii Gaudium. Apostolic Exhortation. 2013.
• Gregg, Samuel. For God and Profit: How Banking and Finance Can Serve the Common Good. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2016.
• Melé, Domènec & Martin Schlag, eds. Humanism in Economics and Business: Perspectives of the Catholic Social Tradition. Heidelberg: Springer, 2015.
• Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. Final Report. Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia, 2019.
• Wright, Clive. The Business of Virtue. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004.

Assessment