Abstract
In this paper I respond to separate criticisms by Bill Shaw (JBE, July 1988) and Richard Nunan (JBE, December 1988) of my paper “A Critique of Milton Friedman's Essay ‘The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits’” (JBE, August 1986). Professors Shaw and Nunan identify several points where my argument could benefit from clarification and improvement. They also make valuable contributions to the discussion of the broad issue area of whether and to what extent business should exercise moral initiative.
My objectives are (1) to show, with the aid of examples (inspired by Shaw) and the addition of one point of correction (inspired by Nunan), that my disapproving critique of Friedman's famous argument remains sound, (2) to show that Professor Shaw's argument contains serious problems, and (3) to build on the base laid by my critics by developing important reasons why business should exercise moral initiative.
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Thomas Mulligan is Assistant Professor of Management at Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada. He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Northwestern University and has worked as a manager and consultant in the manufacturing and software industries. His research interests are business ethics and the advancement of the humanities in business education.
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Mulligan, T.M. Justifying moral initiative by business, with rejoinders to Bill Shaw and Richard Nunan. J Bus Ethics 9, 93–103 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382658
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382658