David Furlonger recently wrote a lengthy piece (Can business ethics be taught? July 26) in which he sketches a picture of the current business ethics landscape, including the challenges and crises which beset this field of ethics. We can discuss the problems at business schools at length, but I believe the matter of ethics needs to be discussed at a much earlier stage, preferably at high school level, if we are to ever see truly ethical business conduct. SA’s universities are dominated by a philosophy of pragmatism and cultural relativism. For the few students exposed to any sort of philosophy, be it when they are studying economics, management or philosophy itself, this involves a dismantling of any concept of truth, not for the purpose of seeking truth, but rather to undermine any sort of "right and wrong" framework a student may possess from his home/cultural background. Students are not equipped with the tools to discuss ethics, and when faced with ethical dilemmas their immedia...
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