Morality, Money, and Motor Cars

Summary

Norman E. Bowie addresses the issue concerning the responsibility of business as related to the environment. In Bowie’s thesis he states that business “…have a moral obligation to avoid intervening in the political arena in order to defeat or weaken environmental legislation” (516). Bowie explains that business can have a negative effect on the environment by doing things like dumping hazardous waste into lakes. Bowie considers that although this may be looked at by some as being morally ok, the real moral issue is addressed when you take into consideration other factors for example In this case, those people and animals who may swim in the lake and the negative effects this may have on their health. In order for something to become a moral obligation, four truths must hold: capability, need, proximity and last resort. Bowie also takes into account that harm is sometimes avoidable by choice. For example, the automobile is in many ways dangerous, but it is stated that, “As long as risks are known, it is not wrong that some preventable harm be permitted so that the other social individual goals can be achieved” (518). Concerning automobiles, Bowie ask the question of whether automobile companies should build the safest cars they can? Bowie feels “not” because these companies are also expected to produce cars that fall into a certain price range and sometimes that means less safety improvements. Although Bowie addresses a wide spread of examples concerning the business and their responsibility to the environment, he clearly summarizes that if business only follow the regulations enforced by the government, there is still more action that need to be taken. Bowie states, “Most business’s unethical conduct regarding environment occurs in the political arena” (520). Avoiding these political arenas, as guidelines for regulations, is in the best