The morality of ruthlessness
Posted on:: September 9th, 2004
Assume a particular business plays by “the rules.” It operates legally and doesn’t engage in business practices that would make it uncomfortable if exposed. But it is a ruthless competitor.
Is ruthlessness itself immoral?
Categories: Uncategorized dw
not if you’re BABE ruth, apparently.
This is kind of like the premise of a new documentary called ‘The Corporation’. The film contends that the nature of the modern day corporation is behaviorally the same as that of a psychopath.
not IMHO. what you are referring to as ruthlessness here is simply competing hard. not only should they, I would argue they have an obligation to their employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders to do so.
there is a saying we (in canada) have that comes from hockey that goes “he plays hard but not dirty” that for me captures the issue. crushing someone with a well-delivered bodycheck is a good deal. get your elbow up and you deserve the penalty and derision you will receive.
of course the word “ruthless” means different things to different people but if, in this case, you mean “having no compassion or pity” for a competitor than it is not only not immoral, it is moral (which may be redundant).
david, you know that markets are darwinian not lamarckian right? ;-)