Economic and Managerial Responsability

Objectives

The CU equips students with analytical skills to understand the origins of capitalism and the path of homo economicus. It explores the ethical bases of capitalism delineating the virtues inherent to economic culture, as transmitted through Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, without forgetting the wisdom contained in the principles of Confucianism and Taoism; it compares the ways that the different capitalist mindsets originating in Anglo-Saxon, Renan and Japanese cultures have responded to the problems and challenges of globalization. It treats globalization and the social responsibility of businesses in today’s world, especially in light of climate change, depletion of natural resources, economic inequality and terrorism; considers the demands of sustainability and the resolve to impose ethical conduct on business. It supplies up-to-date bibliography on morally responsible capitalism and human globalization, in order to overcome the 2008 economic crisis

Program

The course is comprised of six parts: The first presents the origins and characteristics of capitalism and its development until today. The second considers the perspectives transmitted by religions to explain economic conduct and behavior and analyzes the concept of happiness. The third part studies globalization, as well as current economic challenges, and points to possible strategies to remedy “economic injustice” in the distribution of wealth among countries and families. The fourth looks at businesses and corporate responsibility to society, including the visions and virtues of some industry moguls and companies. The fifth part analyses the principle of sustainability in light of various international documents. The last part considers the challenges of making businesses morally responsible.

Teaching Methodologies

The course is comprised of 60 hours of lectures, divided equally between classes of a theoretical nature and classes of a theoretical and practical nature. Class sessions are dedicated to the discussion of the following fundamental documents: the Declaration of the United Nations, the International Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on Children’s Rights, the Convention against All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Prevention of Racial Discrimination and the Convention Abolishing Forced Labor of the ILO (International Labor Organization).

Bibliography

ALMEIDA (2010). ÉTICA, VALORES HUMANOS E RESPONSABILIDADE SOCIAL DAS EMPRESAS, LISBOA: PRINCIPIA.

ARISTÓTELES (2004). A ÉTICA A NICÓMACO, LISBOA: QUETZAL.

MENDES, VICTOR (2002). DIREITOS HUMANOS, LISBOA: VISLIS.

MERCIER, SAMUEL (2003). A ÉTICA NAS EMPRESAS, (1999), PORTO: AFRONTAMENTO.

MOREIRA, JOSÉ MANUEL (1999). A CONTAS COM A ÉTICA EMPRESARIAL, CASCAIS: PRINCIPIA.

NEVES, JOÃO CÉSAR DAS (2008). INTRODUÇÃO À ÉTICA EMPRESARIAL, CASCAIS: PRINCIPIA.

SEN, AMARTYA (1993). ÉTHIQUE ET ECONOMIE, (1987), PARIS: PUF.

AAVV (2007). GESTÃO ÉTICA E SOCIALMENTE RESPONSÁVEL: TEORIA E PRÁTICA. LISBOA, ED. RH.

BENTO, VITOR (2011). ECONOMIA, MORAL E POLÍTICA, LISBOA: ED. FUNDAÇÃO FRANCISCO MANUEL DOS SANTOS, 2011.

CLINTON, BILL, DAR (2008). COMO CADA UM DE NÓS PODE MUDAR O MUNDO, (2006), LISBOA: CASA DAS LETRAS.