Given this diversity, there is no single way—let alone single right way—to
teach and learn business ethics. But this does not mean that there are not common
goals, concepts, principles, and frameworks of business ethics. There is
a growing body of scholarly literature in business ethics, and, in an academic
setting at least, an important element of a course in business ethics is to become
familiar with that scholarly literature. Just as there are Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accountants, there are a set of principles,
standards, concepts, and values common to business ethics. Chapter 2 will
introduce some of the most common ethical theories and principles. But beyond
this academic side, business ethics has a practical side in the sense that it aims
at judgment, behavior, and actions. We all hope that books and classes in business ethics translate into more ethical behavior among business practitioners.