Do No Evil: Ethics With Applications to Economic Theory and Business

Rating:
Summary: Well Written
Review: Easy to read, great manner of expression, and well-stated theory. His analysis of property is excellent. The justification for capitalism is as powerful as Rand's, without the problem of an absolute right to property.

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Summary: A Remarkable Synthesis
Review: One of the few modern philsophy books with practical value...how to live one's life...and theoretical rigour from a philosophical perspective. This is a masterful synthesis of analytical philsophy, normative ethics, economics and business. I highly recommend this to serious students of any of these disciplines. Berumen begins by showing how ethical propositions have meaning and how logic applies to them; he then shows that the folly of moral relativism; and then he comes up with a set of moral principles based on our rational prohibitions and the concept of impartiality, which he contends represent the only universal moral rules possible. Berumen defines evil as the suffering of those who can suffer, whether human or other animals, and he says the basis of universal morality is to avoid causing others to suffer, that which all rational creatures would avoid for themselves without an overriding reason. Berumen then goes on to show how capitalism is more justifiable than socialism from an ethical perspective, primarily on the basis of rules against taking another's property or restricting his freedom to trade or produce. However, Berumen argues that these are not absolute rights...and that one can violate a moral precept when the facts and logic enable one to prescribe a universal exception to the circumstance, such that all rational people would prescribe the same thing given the same facts. Finally, he takes up various business issues such as corporate governance, the environment, selling, and fiduciary responsibility. His comments on the treatment of animals and our duties towards them are among the best I have encountered.

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Summary: Kant Redeux
Review: The author is definitely an apostle of Kantianism. He also knows his history of philosophy. This is an excellent survey of ethics, generally, and it presents a cogent, logical approach to conduct. He gets rid of moral relativism and subjectivism early on in the discussion, and proceeds to outline a basis of universal rules based on what all rational creatures seek to avoid: death, disability, etc. He says that rationality does not require us to want to avoid these things for others, and that we must add the princple of impartiality for this. Berumen's section on fiduciary responsibility is very good, and while it is directed towards business issues, it has broader application. This book is well written.

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Summary: The Importance of Evil
Review: This book says a great many interesting things about ethics. The most important one, however, is that evil is given short shrift compared to good. The author shows that the only legitimate basis for general rules that apply to everyone, everywhere, all of the time... something that all rational people underestand and can act upon... is not causing evil. So many theories focus on what we should be doing for the benefit of others. But people differ widely on what that is. In contrast, rational people do not differ on avoiding death and suffering, which is the crux of Berumen's theory. He presents a spare and workable moral theory. This is a very good read.

Rating:
Summary: Good book on Evil
Review: Well written: clear, non-pedantic, and interesting. The idea is that we have certain rational prohibitions to avoid unnecessary harm to ourselves and that this forms the basis of morality. Berumen says there is no rational requirement to be moral towards others; this comes from joining impartiality with our own rational prohibitions, which requires we extend it to everyone else who can suffer or die, with some proportinate formula for other animals. He comes up with a short list of general maxims...don't kill, cause pain, disable, lie, steal, or violate specified duties/obligations. These are not absolute, however, for we can always come up with a case where an exception would be the right thing to do. We can justify such exceptions by applying a Kantian universal, making it apply all of the time to all such situations. Unlike Kant, Berumen will take specific facts and consequencs into account. He then shows how capitalism, or more specifically, private property and free exchange, are allowed by morality, and why collectivism is morally problematic. Less interesting stuff on business (to me) follows, though I am sure it would be valuable to people interested in the practical business side. The exception (to me) are the chapters on business duties towards animals and the environment. One of the better books on ethics, and the first I have read that really takes a hard look at the concepts underlying socialism and capitalism from an ethical standpoint