By Santificarnos.com

After years of detachment and separation, the myth of the amorality of business seems to have been superseded. Few today will deny that ethics has its place in the company.

But what about religion?

More specifically, what about Christian moral theology? Looking back through history, it becomes clear that religious traditions have contributed to business ethics both as a source of motivation for action and as a source of explicit ethical concepts.

The Catholic theologians of the 14th and 16th centuries, in particular those of the Salamanca School, pioneered the study of business ethics in the earliest days of the market economy.

Today, however, at the dawn of the 21st century, in a secularized and culturally and religiously plural world, does moral theology still have a role to play in the theoretical and practical development of business ethics?

IESE Professor Domènec Melé´s answer is affirmative, though with qualifications.

Religion undoubtedly impacts on the moral conscience and motivation of many people, including people in the world of business, so it would be unrealistic not to take it into account, argues Melé.

Also, there are at present various ethical theories of a philosophical nature "competing" with one another. Why should Christian and other religious ethics be excluded from this contest?

Moreover, theology does not set itself up in opposition to philosophy but draws on it for support. Theology brings to business ethics new horizons of knowledge by giving it a rational and systematic treatment grounded in the faith. This is a key distinction between simple religion and theology.

Theologically grounded Christian ethics includes a rational ethic, based on the dignity of the person and the pursuit of human excellence, which believers and non-believers alike find very reasonable.

Another argument to be considered is the social role of moral leaders, who often are more religious teachers than philosophers. And if in social life it is important to have "moral voices" of acknowledged authority, then it seems logical to suppose that moral theology, too, has a role to play in a multicultural and plurireligious society.

Lastly, there is the factor of religious motivation, with its transcendent foundation, which should not be forgotten, as it adds to other human motivations to do what is right.

All of this points to the need to focus on developing business ethics from a theological perspective, provided, that is, the approach adopted is realistic and rational, avoiding any risk of clinging to abstract principles or, worse still, giving way to any kind of fundamentalism or fanaticism beyond all logic.


Click here to return to homepage