Business Ideologies and Value Systems
Central to America’s development was a body of social and economic philosophy which was shared by business leaders and justification for business activities. Several major philosophies which were popular during the nineteenth century will now be discussed:-
(a) Individualism work and the Protestant ethic
The Protestant ethic thus creating terms such as individual ethic, work ethic and capitalistic, while all are interrelated within the general framework of the Protestant ethic. The Protestant ethic held that every held that every man had both a spiritual and a temporal calling. An integral part of belief in the Protestant ethic was the concept of individualism. A second integral part of the Protestant ethic was the belief in work, hard work; diligence, initiative, and judgment were considered godly traits. A further part of the Protestant ethic was concerned with money.
(b) Laissez-faire and the classical tradition
America had in the eighteenth century, fought a war with England over the government and business relations. Difficulties resulting from government interference with American business under British mercantilism were still fresh in the minds of business. It was no wonder that the men who framed the constitution were careful to define the role of the new government in terms of lasses fair ethic to them meant, “Let business alone”.
(c) Social Darwinism
It is an original biological contest Darwinian Theory proposed that all forms of life evolved, over time, from a few, basic types and that through a process of natural selecting; only the strongest and fit survived.
(d) Philosophies of Machiavelli
Threads of Machiavellian philosophies also appeared in the nineteenth and continue to appear today Machiavelli was discussed, he not only identified with great clarity many problems in political administration but also suggested what he considered appropriate solution’s to the problems.
(e) Pragmatism
The philosopher’s William James and John dovekey, viewed social progress as a process of change which could and should be contained by men. Pragmatic thought viewed man’s environment as a variable which could be controlled and manipulated.
