"People have a strong ethical duty to cause no harm, and only a prima facie duty to prevent harm or to do good." Discuss Norman Bowie's view on this statement.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Norman Bowie distinguishes between the ethical imperatives to cause no harm, to prevent harm, and to do good. The obligation to cause no harm, in Bowie's view, overrides other ethical considerations. The pursuit of profit legitimately can be constrained by this ethical duty. On the other hand, Bowie accepts the economic view that managers are the agents of stockholder-owners and thus they also have a duty to further the interests of stockholders. Thus, while it is ethically good for managers to prevent harm or to do good, their duty to stockholders overrides these concerns. As long as managers comply with the moral minimum and cause no harm, they have a responsibility to maximize profits.