Mathias Schüz - Böcker

Complex problems can only be overcome with complex solutions. This dictum by Albert Einstein also applies to current world problems such as climate change, species extinction, the littering of our planet, and the growing gap between rich and poor. They overwhelm individual scientific disciplines. Therefore, they can only be solved through transdisciplinarity, i.e. beyond the individual disciplines in interaction with empirical knowledge of different provenance and philosophical reflection.This first volume of the book series "Transdisciplinary Management of Social and Ecological Crises" explains how transdisciplinarity is to be understood in general, what approaches exist, and how they contribute to solving the various world problems.In this context, the book addresses, among other things, the replacement of man's claim to dominion over nature, the overcoming of culturally determined boundaries in human communities, and integrative and agile management methods in business, politics, art, and society. It deals with a sustainable circular economy, new forms of politics in the interest of all instead of a few, learning from artists, healthy and environmentally sound nutrition, and spiritual mindfulness in dealing with oneself and other ways of life.Thus, the book is aimed at a broad audience from different disciplines interested in the perspective of and interaction with other disciplines to solve global problems.Chapter "Methodology of Transdisciplinarity–Levels of Reality, Logic of the Included Middle and Complexity" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

What has ethics got to do with my job? How can I take on ethical responsibility and help to make my company more successful at the same time? Although 'ethical responsibility' has become something of a catchphrase these days, most people only have a vague idea what it means and how it can be demonstrated in actual practice.Disasters like the Volkswagen's emission scandal, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the nuclear meltdown of Fukushima, the global financial crisis, and countless lesser-known cases of damage to human beings and the environment are the result of unethically irresponsible business practices. Efforts to maximize profits frequently lead to reckless behavior, as those in charge focus on short-term benefits and ignore social and environmental risks. Their actions have negative consequences, not only for the victims but, in many cases, for the perpetrators themselves too. Aggrieved interest groups or disadvantaged stakeholders may react with strikes, public protests, or boycotts, jeopardizing their reputation and profitability.This textbook, Applied Business Ethics, is the result of many years of research work and lecturing, and is an attempt to present the most important principles and the latest approaches in business ethics to students, teachers, and business practitioners alike, and help them to make business decisions that everyone concerned will benefit from, rather than just a few fortunate stakeholders.The author illustrates his theoretical subject matter with practical examples of real-life situations and provides numerous exercises to help the reader grasp complex issues, moral dilemmas, and business risks better. In clear, accessible, and easily understandable terms, he demonstrates how ways of finding satisfactory solutions can be found in a systematic way thanks to interdisciplinary research and philosophical reflection.