FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS

Should a For-Profit Business Run by Biblical Principles Differ From One Run by Secular or Worldly Principles?



Should a For-Profit Business Run by Biblical Principles Differ From One Run by Secular or Worldly Principles?

Introduction

Ever since the so-called enlightenment the ideal of secularization has been prominent. All human affairs from state, science, legislation to personal conduct were to be regulated by human reason without reference to religious doctrine and values. Ethics was no exception and received a special founding in human reason by Kant. Reason became the new godhead.

Discussion

The godess of reason was formally enthroned in the French revolution. Although reason has not been able to prevent disastrous historical developments from the cruel bloodsheds of the French revolution to World Wars I and II, it continues to be liftet up and worshipped beyond measure in the Western world. Especially in ethics most contemporary approaches in the West try to get by without a priori values of any kind and proceed by reason alone. But since it has not been possible to wipe out a priori values completely the literature finds it necessary to distinguish between formal ethics (without a priori values) and material ethics (based on a priori values). A heavy majority of contemporary ethical approaches in the West appears to be formal, i.e. restricted to a reasoning process without a priori values.

Besides the fact that it is far from clear what the "rationally better" or "more resonable" argument is, it is easy to see the roots of relativism in this kind of approach. By similar approaches, many have reasoned themselves into highly questionable conclusions of the type "good is what serves the people" , "right or wrong - my country" , and even severe violations of human rights and crimes by highly intelligent people. In summary: ethical ...