Is profit immoral?

Question

Most firms concentrate on profit nowadays and go on a blind eye on factors such as public safety, nation's welfare, just for the sake of profit! But my view on this is that it wud be immoral for companies not to try to make a profit, but important facts shud not be overlooked

Answer 1

If companies do not earn a profit, they cannot survive. I do not see it as a moral issue, one way or another. In general, people who work for companies don't have the approach of profits at all cost. Most people want to do a good job, earn a good wage and maybe get a bonus or pay raise or promotion.
Public safety, especially where products are involved, is a key issue. Companies who put out unsafe products get sued into submission by products liability lawyers.
While probably no one in business thinks much about the nation's welfare, improved products and services (which earn profits) do contribute in the long run.

Answer 2

Well, the point of having a company is to make a profit. You want to make money for yourself and your investors, for your board and for your staff.

However, you can do this AND be ethical. What is the point of profit if no one is alive to buy your producat? What is the point of profit if no one can afford to buy your product?

Profit for the sake of profit can be totally immoral and completely not responsible. However, doing buisness with ethics can be great for everyone.

Sadly, too many companies are short sighted only care about getting money into their own pockets and don't care if the rest of the world burns. However, that just goes to show that those people have no idea about what life is about.

Answer 3

You are correct. Profit, in itself, is not immoral. However, profit with no regard to others, is. This goes even beyond safety issues...

Take the oil industry. They are making such a huge profit that it is really hurting the economy. I believe that is immoral.

I also believe the way our whole system of loaning people money is immoral. The idea of charging higher interest to someone who has a bad credit rating makes no sense. I just don't see how charging someone more because you are worried about them not making their payments makes sense!

Answer 4

Profit is not immoral, some things that corporations, or people do to make profit are. Putting profit before humanity is immoral. As an example Walmart refuses to pay a living wage to it's employees, I would say that Walmart is committing an immoral act in the name of profit.

Answer 5

Yes. If it is made by employing unfair trade practices, exploitation and if it leads to environmental degredation.

No. If it doesn't involve any of the above and instead benefits the society, the company's employees or shareholders.

It is unfortunate that most companies today fall in the first category or somewhere in the middle. Very few come under the second category.

"The Corporation" is a great documentary on the nature of corporations and how the profit motivation ingrained in them are having profound negative impact on the society. However, it's somewhat one-sided and doesn't talk about the benefits corporations have brought about.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379225/

Answer 6

With the exception of non-profit organizations, which are established primarily to help people, every business is IN business to make a profit. Making money, in and of itself, is not "evil." However, engaging in illegal or unethical business practices like cutting corners, inflating bills, not complying with safety/environmental regulations, etc., for the sake of making more money IS evil.

Answer 7

There is nothing immoral about profit, but many companies or individual people will do immoral things in order to profit.

Answer 8

Companies should be both profitable and socially responsible. If they're not profitable, they will go out of business, but if they're not socially responsible, they are probably causing more problems than they solve.

Answer 9

profit is good death is good lieing is good [i am a ninja and ninjas are BAD]