BOWIE

Bowie

For Bowie, what moral obligations do corporations have with respect to the environment and why?

Bowie has argued in his article that apart from the requirement by law, businesses do not have any obligation to protect the environment. Corporate managers abiding by the corporate environmental laws should stick to avoidance of harm at its minimum. Even all corporations are responsible for creating pollution which harms many aspects in the society, yet managers are not blameworthy for such an act. When particular risk is known involved while using a product, avoidable harm then is permitted to achieve social and individual goals. Social consensus decides the level and standard of the permissible harm by comparing potential harm and utility of the product. As long as the corporations operate according to environmental laws, till then the society accepts the harm done on the environment. This claim is proven by the fact that most of the consumers are unwilling to pay for the environmentally friendly products. They don't show too much effort for the recycling process. Even consumers don't support increased taxation to be used as funds for environmental causes. Only managers are not to be blamed for the environmental harms caused by their organization, consumers are equally responsible for the harm too, because they demand environmentally un-friendly products. Due to these consumers demands which they put willingly and knowingly, corporate managers meet the demand abiding by the environmental laws (Jais, 2008).

Bowie further elaborates that businesses can create a negative image of themselves if they dump hazardous waste into lakes. He considers that even if it seems morally alright but the marine animals and people who may swim into that water can get negative effects on their health. He said that moral obligations must hold four truths, those were capability, need, closeness, and last resort. He also considers the point that harm can be avoided by choice. He gave examples of automobile cars that they are dangerous in many ways; if the risks are known then any preventable harm be permitted to achieve social individual goals. He argues that automobiles should not focus on the manufacturing of the safest cars because the production would have a price range and cannot guarantee safety improvements. He also comments that businesses following the government imposed regulations require a further action to be taken. He says that there are businesses which go unethical in code of conduct in the political arena (Jais, 2008).

He holds the view that businesses are obliged to protect the environment, although, businesses are not required to protect above the law. He suggested that business should grant the demands of the consumers and should educate the society about the environment. According to him businesses have an obligation to abide by the law, to avoid negative behavior. As consumers are also aware of the future risks and harm by the present conditions of the cars, yet they are still unwilling to pay extra for their own ...