Don't Teach Ethics To Business Students!

Abstract

This paper describes an alternative pedagogy when teaching ethics to business students. Allegedly, a non-direct method of teaching business ethics would be a superior method than using the more traditional direct approach. "Okay class, we are going to teach you business ethics today. Here is an exercise in business ethics, let's see how you do". Does this sound all too familiar? Students will predictably respond to such an exercise. When a professor announces."Today, we will do a forest green exercise", then what is the first color students will answer when asked, "What should be the color of the proposed new product?" Forrest green, what a surprise!