▶ Your Answer :
In a highly capitalized society
as it is these days, the moral standards in achieving wealth have become
somewhat vague. People in general like to think that large corporations as well
as the individuals that comprise it, are not obliged to support the general
well-being of the society as long as it operates within boundaries
circumscribed by law. Nevertheless, there are some important reasons that imply
us to think otherwise.
Most importantly, one should acknowledge that wealth is
not obtained solely through the efforts of a corporation and its members. The
assumption underlying capitalism is that, as human beings with free will, we
are able to attain whatever that could be obtained through our labor within the
law. This is certainly true, and surely we do not have a duty to take for
granted only a portion from what we have achieved. Nevertheless, due to an
inherent nature of our society, it is impossible to argue that the wealth a
company has attained can solely be credited to its efforts. Like everything
else in society, money and resources are limited, and earning money implies the
fact that the same amount of wealth has been taken away from another person.
Also, we always obtain wealth through the aid of an inherent social structure. This
implies that we are not entirely credited with obtaining wealth, and certain
amount of our share should be given back to the society for an equal
development.
It is true that the argument that a corporation’s sole
responsibility lies in making as much money as possible has a grain of truth in
it. We certainly live in a concrete jungle where the strong dominate the weak,
and this is the rule that all of nature abides by. While this fact cannot be
denied, this is also a point which differentiates human civilization from mere
animal nature. A civilization strives to reach common good, a world where
everyone can live happily. In order for this world to be realized, everyone
should be given equal opportunity to achieve whatever he or she pleases.
However, the world, as we all know, are not able to confer everyone equal
opportunities. Some are born into impoverished families while some are born as
heirs to a millionaire. Thus, a corporation which attained considerable amount
of wealth has a moral obligation to ‘give back’ to the society, since their
wealth was also given to them by a portion of luck, or better opportunities
than others who have less.
A corporation certainly has a moral obligation to return
a portion of their wealth back to society. This may or may not be enforced by
law, but to attain a society where everyone is equal and happy, it is sure that
this is the fundamental guideline that all corporations should follow. |