An Ethical Study Of The Social Responsibility Of Enterprises

In recent years, the social problems caused by business activities and a variety of social expectations of enterprises are intertwined, so that the social responsibility of enterprises presents a more complicated situation in our country. Based on the new ethical theory—the Ethics of Responsibility, the writer of this paper believes that it is greatly significant both in theory and practice in tackling the problems concerning the responsibilities of enterprises through a literature review and comparative study in terms of its originality and development both in China and foreign countries.The social responsibility of enterprises arise from the market economy which aims at gaining as much profit as possible in ignorance of its social duties and its damages to society. Scholars home and abroad have discussed this phenomenon extensively since it came into being in the mid-20th century. Generally speaking, the social responsibility of enterprises refers to a kind of socially moral care besides their own interest when enterprises are regarded as the responsible subject. It belongs to the general morality, foregrounding its integrity, objectivation, community and necessity.To undertake the social responsibility for enterprises has its justification and rationality which is the ground upon which this idea is generally acceptable; and too, it is the premise for enterprises to take such responsibility. In sum, the morality of human beings determines the possibilities of the social responsibility of enterprises; the dependence of enterprises on society determines the inevitability; and the inherent relationship between economy and morality determines the reality. The significance of enterprise undertaking its social responsibility lies not only in its own development and respect for human beings but also in the construction of harmonious and happy lives and the needs of building the new ideas of responsibility and ethical spirit.As for the meaning of the social responsibility of enterprises, it mainly refers the duties of social function, the duties of business, and the duties of practical result. In order to carry out the foregoing duties, enterprises should follow these principles: the principle of equality combined with adequacy; the principle of undertaking in all-sides; and the principle of conformity between means and aim. Those principles regulate and demand enterprises on different levels from different angles. In practice, how enterprises carry out its social responsibility will be influenced by their own interest, social environment, and the moral of the staff, esp. the entrepreneurs.The social responsibility is a general demand for enterprises which, in practice, will be influenced by the differences between enterprises. This will cause problems concerning how to recognize and perform the social responsibility of enterprises. In China, in addition to the general factors, there exist some concrete problems, such as the character of enterprises in relation to its carrying out of social responsibility; society based on enterprise in relation to enterprise undertaking social responsibility; and the affirmation of the social responsibility of enterprises and social responsibility of transnational enterprises.The social responsibility for enterprises is not merely a notional problem but also a practical problem. For the time being, there exist such problems about the Chinese enterprises as the notion of it not strong and normal enough, no enough social strength to drive it to carry out, no balance between enterprises. In order to solve the forementioned problems, it is necessary to intensify the theoretical propaganda, quicken the lawful construction, undertake various activities in this field, and promote the international corporations.