LAWRENCE – Kansas University professor Richard De George said that 30 years ago the term “business ethics” drew laughter. However, because of financial scandals and misbehavior, widespread anger among Americans, and the spreading Occupy Wall Sreet movement, business schools and corporate boardrooms are scrambling to emphasize business ethics, he said. De George, KU Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and co-director of the International Center for Ethics in Business, has recently written a paper on the new focus on business ethics. He said that even business ethicists have been caught flat-footed by the extent of greed and bad business behavior and are trying to catch up. Finance capitalism has yet to be studied in adequate detail from an ethical point of view, he said. The Occupy Wall Street movement is a reaction to that. Under industrial capitalism, “the U.S. produced enormous amounts of goods and services and corporations were allowed special privileges — with the understanding that they contribute to society with employment,” he said. Under finance capitalism, the bargain hasn’t beem as clear. De George also said government regulators failed to ensure a proper balance between ethical behavior and business practices.
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 10 p.m.
