Business Within The Lens Of Kohlberg

Mark McLauughlin
Business within the Lens of Kohlberg
The goal of business and economic activity in the marketplace as it relates to the six Kohlberg stages for making ethical decisions depends onthe individual and his or her mindset in the decision-making process. One’s business-related goals and views of the economy are certainly more self-centered and consequence-based in the first twostages of the Kohlberg model. A business is more likely to allow unethical or morally questionable behavior if they are not beyond the bounds of the pre-conventional stages because they are solelyconsumed in their own ability to evade consequence rather than make moral decisions. They may view the economy as a means to an end, thus, using resources irresponsibly and not heeding ethical standardsthat are involved with running a business. Although stage one requires less cognitive reasoning than stage two, they are both self-driven and focus on the outcomes that affect the self. Thus, thegoal of businesses and economic activity with a selfish perspective would be perceived as normal and sufficient within the context of the first two stages. For a Christian, however, this reasoning isdiminishing to Christ’s goals of acting with morals and selflessness. Businesses should not simply act based on their fear of consequence, but rather in faith that they are doing the right thing as agodly Christian.
The conventional stages three and four may view business and economic activity through the lens of following rules and regulations, even if this means abiding blindly. Those inthese stages would approach business ethically, but only within the boundaries of the law. For example, they may follow health and safety standards faithfully, but they may not question whether or notthese rules are genuinely good regulations. The would diligently follow the guidelines set before them as to how to run a business and operate within the economy, but never question whether or not a...