Compatibility of Business and Ethics

There is a traditional belief that business and ethics are at odds. Business has a primal motive of earning profits and the notion is that it is achieved through all possible means. Possible means can mean new and old, good and bad or ethical and unethical ways. But trust and integrity are essentials to carry out a business. There lies the rift in business and ethics, questioning its compatibility. This paper is purely conceptual. The objective of this paper is to find if business and ethics are compatible. Viewpoints and observations of various authors with respect to the compatibility of business and ethics are identified in this regard. Perceptions and findings of researchers to identify the causes for unethical practices in business are also focused to bring a better view of business ethics. Attempt is made to provide suggestions for eliminating unethical behaviours in business. It is very difficult for a business to be purely ethical. A state of perfect society is an impossible dream but if a business wills, it can always strive harder towards ethicality.