Order Ethics or Moral Surplus

Christoph Luetge is Peter Löscher Professor of Business Ethics at Technische Universität München.

Luetge's book aims to develop a system of ethics that replaces the language of sacrifice with that of investment. The problem he sets out to solve is how, given conditions of modern globalization and the basic fact that human beings will act in their own self-interest; can there be a system of ethics at all? Much of the book is devoted to a discussion of contemporary ethical theories that rely on 'surplus moral value' that demands some degree of sacrifice. These theories cannot provide a stable foundation for society under conditions of modern globalization. Because it does not rely on individuals acting against their own interests, order ethics is a better candidate for providing social order. Luetge sees his theory in the same vein as Adam Smith, and he argues that his approach can address problems posed by game theory. The idea of understanding ethical actions as investments that leave everyone better off rather than a sacrifice that leaves one vulnerable to exploitation is interesting. He concedes that people will need education to understand their adherence to ethics this way . . . Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate and research collections.

• Chapter 1: Introduction: The Challenge of Globalization to PhilosophyChapter 2: Normativity Under Conditions of Globalization: The Conception of Order EthicsChapter 3: Society Requires Capacities of the IndividualChapter 4: Society Requires a Sense of Justice (John Rawls)Chapter 5: Society Requires Incentives and RulesChapter 6: Conclusion: Normativity ex nihilo?