The Moral Status of the Corporation

This article analyzes the moral responsibilities of corporations and their existing status of moral duties. It explores the relationship between moral rights and legal values in corporate practices.

Reflective journal 2

TABLE OF CONTENT
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REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................3

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
The article named “The moral status of the corporation” is written by R. E. Ewin and was
published in Journal of Business Ethics in. The article was published by Kluwer Academic
publishers and was printed in Netherland. The author Bob Ewin works as philosophy professor at
University of Australia. The article aims at addressing the question that if corporations have
moral responsibilities similar to human beings and what is their existing status of moral duties.
By this article author analyses, the person centered perspective of corporate responsibility. In
addition to this article also includes arguments which states that corporates cannot be considered
as independent and separate entity and thus it is not possible for them to have independent moral
personality for them. Through the article Ewin try to concluded that corporations have and must
have moral personality in the form of collective institutions.
The title of article suggests that in the era of profitability when corporations are
competing for benefits it is vital to assess the morality within these institutional bodies. With the
assessment of moral status, the article also aims at evaluating and exploring the existing status of
morality among individuals who contribute to the functioning of corporations. The author has
expertise in philosophical teaching as well as rights and virtues which completely justify the
authority to discuss the title. The intended audience for article is corporates, their representatives
as well as social groups who consider corporate as responsible for social and economic change
and political representatives who formulates ethical and moral legislations and duties for the
institutions. The purpose of the article is to analyses the moral personality, restrictions on duties
and moral values as well as limitation of corporate which influences the moral grounds. Another
important consideration which has been taken into account by author is to critically evaluate the
charitable intentions as well as other moral acts of corporates. Ewin has also integrated
references from the different and popular philosophers who have worked in the field of corporate
morals and ethics as well as company and other legislations.
For me the most critical element of the article is that different types of corporations can
have different perspective and meaning towards ethics and moral values. I believe that each
individual has its own virtue and vices and thus whether they work in corporate or not their
characteristics and virtues remain in their aside. In my opinion it is important for corporations to
understand the relationship between moral rights and legal values. It will not only help them to

sustain and assure long term growth but will also try to influence their profitability and social
contribution. I also feel that many times managers and the upper representatives of corporates
have kind heart and they are willing to demonstrate their social and moral responsibility.
However, in this path as well there are certain limitations. For instance, managers may have
desire to follow the moral practices extensively but since they are stakeholders of corporation it
become their primary liability to ensure that profitability goals as the first priority. It can limit
their efforts to conduct the moral and ethical practices. The corporate officials face great
dilemma over the fact that if they should emphasis upon morality or put profitability as their
priority (Palmiter, 2017). I believe that it is quite common situations for corporates when they
may face conflicts over establishing a balance between profit goals, shareholder interests and
moral considerations. Thus there is great need for corporates to analyze the legal as well as moral
implications of their practices so that there is perfect balance between the organizational goals
and moral values. This type of approach is helpful for the corporates to improve their moral
status as well as to improve their social presence among their valuable stakeholders (Grant &
McGhee, 2017).
I have also developed great insight of the limitations and the requirements of
strengthening moral values involved within corporate practice. However, it can impose certain
restrictions on corporate practices. I have also understood that moral status of corporates can be
improved by having a clear guideline and structural details about the morality of practices of
corporate. This is also supported by legislative implications as well as moral guidelines and
principles of individual corporate institutions. I also came to understand that despite having
considerable challenges in improving moral status of corporations, it is necessary for the
organizations to overcome these challenges so that on the basis of improved social and moral
presence success can be achieved in better and efficient way.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Grant, P., & McGhee, P. (2017). Personal moral values of directors and corporate
governance. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society.
Palmiter, A. R. (2017). Corporate Governance as Moral Psychology. Wash. & Lee L. Rev., 74,
1119.