This book evaluates strategies for managing ethical conflict. Macro-approaches that attribute select values to entire peoples and claim supremacy for these values are suspect. A micro-approach, focusing on the ethics of individual thinkers, is better. The study uses the ethics of Confucius and Tetsuro Watsuji to derive a process-based universal ethic that respects local differences yet is not relativistic.
FOREWORD
Gerhold K. Becker
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. The Existence and Rhetoric of "Asian Values"
2. Reasons for Pursuing a Micro-Strategy
ONE Being Human and Doing Business in a Confucian World
1. Living and Acting Humanely
A. Jen* as Self-Discipline
i. The Confucian Ethic and Capitalism
B. Jen* and Ritual Action
i. A Confucian Evaluation of a Business Ritual:
The Mainland Tradition of Hiring Relatives
C. Jen* and Doing
i. The Confucian Attitude toward Selling
D. Jen* and Order
i. Dispute Resolution through Friendly Consultation
ii. High Salaries for Senior Executives
iii. Use of Corporate Codes of Conduct
2. Problems with a Confucian Ethic
3. Conclusion
TWO The Watsujian Ethic and Japanese Business Practices
1. An Overview of the Watsujian Ethic
A. Determination of the "Should"
2. The Watsujian Ethic in the Business Context
A. Permanent or Lifetime Employment
System (Shushin Koyo Seido)
B. Seniority Pay and Promotion System (Nenko Joretsu)
C. The Keiretsu System
3. Objections to the Watsujian Ethic
A. Objection 1: The Ethic Is Reactionary
B. Objection 2: The Watsujian Ethic Overlooks Some
Stakeholders
C. Objection 3: The Individual Is Subsumed within the Whole
4. Conclusion
THREE Watsujian Trust, Human Being, and Business Practice
1. Trust and Ningen
A. Trust Is Not Established or Guaranteed by Rules or Contracts
B. Trust Is Not an Inter-Individual Phenomenon but an Interpersonal One
C. Trust Is Not Based on Evidence Accumulated by One Individual Concerning Another Individual's Performance or History
D. Trust Is Not the Result of a Cost-Benefit Calculation
2. The Basis or Ground of Trust
A. Examples of the Watsujian Ethic at Work
3. Truthtelling, Sincerity, and Deceit
4. Possible Dangers with the Watsujian Conception of Trust
5. Conclusion
FOUR Confucian Trustworthiness in Action
1. Trustworthiness in the Confucian Ethic
A. Examples of a Confucian Ethic at Work in Business
i. Suspicion of Contracts
ii. The Prominence of Guanxi
iii. An Emphasis on Ethical Leadership
2. Objections to the Confucian Idea of Trustworthiness
A. Objection 1: Confucian Filial Piety Encourages
Distrust
B. Objection 2: Confucian Ethic Ignores the Role of Competency and Shared Values in Trust
C. Objection 3: Self-Scrutiny Too Easily Becomes Dangerous Self-Criticism
3. Conclusion
FIVE The Public and Private in the Watsujian Ethic: Implications for Business Practice
1. Three Western Models of the Public
A. Model 1: The Public Is Whatever Is Affected by Political Authority
B. Model 2: The Public as Revelatory Space
C. Model 3: The Public as the Consequence of Individual Actions
2. The Watsujian Conception of the Public and Its Implications for Business Practice and Norms
3. Some Problematic Implications of the Watsujian Ethic
A. Problem 1: Lack of Human Rights
B. Problem 2: Limits to Government Intervention
C. Problem 3: Government and Corporations Too Intertwined
D. Problem 4: Inadequate Checks to Prevent Degradation of Public Realm
4. Conclusion
SIX The Public Realm in the Confucian Ethic: Implications for a Business Ethic
1. The Lack of a Public-Private Distinction in the Confucian Ethic
A. The Production of a Humane Order
B. The Humane Order and the Practice of Business
C. Possible Objections to a Confucian Business Ethic
i. Objection 1: The Confucian Ethic Gives Too Much Power to an Elite
ii. Objection 2: The Confucian Ethic Is Wedded to the Status Quo
iii. Objection 3: Modern Economies Require
a Rule of Law
2. Conclusion
SEVEN Toward a Universal Business Ethic
1. The Multiplicity and Incommensurability of Human Goods as the Basis for a Universal Ethic
A. Human Goods Are Many and Diverse in Watsujian and Confucian Ethics
B. Reason-Giving Makes Most Sense When the Goods Are Multiple and Possibly Incommensurate
C. Virtues Presuppose Diverse Human Goods
i. Integrity
ii. Loyalty
iii. Harmony
iv. Trustworthiness
2. Individuals as the Standard for Ethically Good Action
3. Evil within a Universal Ethic
A. A Case Study
B. Judging Well
i. Contextualize Judgments by Seeking Different Perspectives and Looking for Many Goods
ii. Honor All Goods to the Extent Possible
iii. Never Underestimate a Culture's Capability to Develop
iv. Be Humble
NOTES Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
FOREWORD
Gerhold K. Becker
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. The Existence and Rhetoric of "Asian Values"
2. Reasons for Pursuing a Micro-Strategy
ONE Being Human and Doing Business in a Confucian World
1. Living and Acting Humanely
A. Jen* as Self-Discipline
i. The Confucian Ethic and Capitalism
B. Jen* and Ritual Action
i. A Confucian Evaluation of a Business Ritual:
The Mainland Tradition of Hiring Relatives
C. Jen* and Doing
i. The Confucian Attitude toward Selling
D. Jen* and Order
i. Dispute Resolution through Friendly Consultation
ii. High Salaries for Senior Executives
iii. Use of Corporate Codes of Conduct
2. Problems with a Confucian Ethic
3. Conclusion
TWO The Watsujian Ethic and Japanese Business Practices
1. An Overview of the Watsujian Ethic
A. Determination of the "Should"
2. The Watsujian Ethic in the Business Context
A. Permanent or Lifetime Employment
System (Shushin Koyo Seido)
B. Seniority Pay and Promotion System (Nenko Joretsu)
C. The Keiretsu System
3. Objections to the Watsujian Ethic
A. Objection 1: The Ethic Is Reactionary
B. Objection 2: The Watsujian Ethic Overlooks Some
Stakeholders
C. Objection 3: The Individual Is Subsumed within the Whole
4. Conclusion
THREE Watsujian Trust, Human Being, and Business Practice
1. Trust and Ningen
A. Trust Is Not Established or Guaranteed by Rules or Contracts
B. Trust Is Not an Inter-Individual Phenomenon but an Interpersonal One
C. Trust Is Not Based on Evidence Accumulated by One Individual Concerning Another Individual's Performance or History
D. Trust Is Not the Result of a Cost-Benefit Calculation
2. The Basis or Ground of Trust
A. Examples of the Watsujian Ethic at Work
3. Truthtelling, Sincerity, and Deceit
4. Possible Dangers with the Watsujian Conception of Trust
5. Conclusion
FOUR Confucian Trustworthiness in Action
1. Trustworthiness in the Confucian Ethic
A. Examples of a Confucian Ethic at Work in Business
i. Suspicion of Contracts
ii. The Prominence of Guanxi
iii. An Emphasis on Ethical Leadership
2. Objections to the Confucian Idea of Trustworthiness
A. Objection 1: Confucian Filial Piety Encourages
Distrust
B. Objection 2: Confucian Ethic Ignores the Role of Competency and Shared Values in Trust
C. Objection 3: Self-Scrutiny Too Easily Becomes Dangerous Self-Criticism
3. Conclusion
FIVE The Public and Private in the Watsujian Ethic: Implications for Business Practice
1. Three Western Models of the Public
A. Model 1: The Public Is Whatever Is Affected by Political Authority
B. Model 2: The Public as Revelatory Space
C. Model 3: The Public as the Consequence of Individual Actions
2. The Watsujian Conception of the Public and Its Implications for Business Practice and Norms
3. Some Problematic Implications of the Watsujian Ethic
A. Problem 1: Lack of Human Rights
B. Problem 2: Limits to Government Intervention
C. Problem 3: Government and Corporations Too Intertwined
D. Problem 4: Inadequate Checks to Prevent Degradation of Public Realm
4. Conclusion
SIX The Public Realm in the Confucian Ethic: Implications for a Business Ethic
1. The Lack of a Public-Private Distinction in the Confucian Ethic
A. The Production of a Humane Order
B. The Humane Order and the Practice of Business
C. Possible Objections to a Confucian Business Ethic
i. Objection 1: The Confucian Ethic Gives Too Much Power to an Elite
ii. Objection 2: The Confucian Ethic Is Wedded to the Status Quo
iii. Objection 3: Modern Economies Require
a Rule of Law
2. Conclusion
SEVEN Toward a Universal Business Ethic
1. The Multiplicity and Incommensurability of Human Goods as the Basis for a Universal Ethic
A. Human Goods Are Many and Diverse in Watsujian and Confucian Ethics
B. Reason-Giving Makes Most Sense When the Goods Are Multiple and Possibly Incommensurate
C. Virtues Presuppose Diverse Human Goods
i. Integrity
ii. Loyalty
iii. Harmony
iv. Trustworthiness
2. Individuals as the Standard for Ethically Good Action
3. Evil within a Universal Ethic
A. A Case Study
B. Judging Well
i. Contextualize Judgments by Seeking Different Perspectives and Looking for Many Goods
ii. Honor All Goods to the Extent Possible
iii. Never Underestimate a Culture's Capability to Develop
iv. Be Humble
NOTES Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX