The topic “Business Ethics” is one of the most important concepts as well as principles when people run a company. We can clearly see that Milton Friedman’s point of social responsibility in business ethics is merely based on Neoclassical Economics, which over-emphasizes the economic goal but pay less attention to business ethics by neglecting the historical inevitability of a company. Hence, I agree that a company should be responsible to the whole society as the business ethics instead of simply following the basic customs.

Take CVS’s plan of stopping selling cigarette as an example: according to Friedman’s perspective, CVS meddles with the duty of the government, which definitely damages our free-entrepreneur system. But is it true? CVS implements the plan, hoping help promote health-care awareness, which may in turn benefit the selling of other products. Companies are inextricably linked with the external environment and thus the process of personalization is unavoidable. Therefore, corporations should follow some ethics because they would gain a better economic-environment only if the firms have done good to the society. Keep in mind that corporations exist in pursuit of higher efficiency and better farewell, or they will be replaced by those which can achieve the goal.

Citation:

Stephanie Strom. “CVS vows to Quit Selling Tobacco Product.” The New York Times.
Feb 5, 2014