1、 1 中文 2440 字 附录 一 外文资料 ： Historical Antecedents of Chinese Business Ethics Charles A.Rarick School of Management Purdue University-Calumet ， 2009. Introduction China has captured the attention of the world with its fast growing economy and large population.If present trends continue,China will chang
2、e the landscape of global business well into the 21st Century .China has become the fourth largest economy in the world,and this economic growth is driven in part by an impressive expansion of Chinas manufacturing base and export abilities. With Chinas economic growth comes an increased need to bett
3、er understand the thinking of the Chinese. The last few years have seen an increased interest in understanding the business and managerial practices of the Chinese . China has also captured the attention of the world for its perceived high level of government corruption,piracy of intellectual proper
4、ty,and unsafe exports. Simply looking at data,and cases of questionable business practices,does little to understand ethical behavior in a country. A deeper understanding of culture and ethical orientation can come from a multidimensional approach to the assignment of values and the determinants of
5、those values.By Chinese managers to gain a better understanding of the Chinese view of business ethics. There are two researchers discuss the philosophical foundations of Chinese ethics(with a focus on leadership)using Hong Kong CEOs to show their linkages with doctrines of the past. This paper take
6、s a more philosophical orientation in examining the Chinese view of ethics by exploring in greater detail the historical roots of Chinese cultural values. Particular attention is paid to the influence of Confucius and Mencius on ethical values. It is generally agreed that the Chinese view of ethical
7、 behavior differs from the views of the WestWhile in general the Chinese see corruption as constituting unethical behavior,there is flexibility when the corruption involves guanxi,or relationships. Guanxi has existed in Chinese culture for centuries and it is an important element of Confucian philos
8、ophy. When a close relationship exists between parties,a greater ethical duty exists. For example,McGee and Guo report that tax evasion is perceived as widespread,and not necessarily unethical in China,however,the justification for the evasion of taxes among the Chinese is influenced by the distance
9、 of the relationship 2 and the utility of the process. McGee and Guo report that evasion is greatest when people feel that the government is corrupt,the tax system is unfair,or the tax revenue is being unwisely spent by the government. The complex system of determining what is right from wrong is ba
10、sed upon deeply ingrained beliefs of a culture.In order to gain a better understanding of any culture,it is necessary to explore the sources of the values of that culture.A deeper understanding of a culture is achieved when one explores the historical antecedents of the beliefs and values of the peo
11、ple comprising the culture.While much has been written about current Chinese business practices and culture,and this information is quite useful,a better understanding of Chinese culture requires an investigation into the historical origins of those cultural values.China has a very long and colorful
12、 history,and this history is very important to the Chinese people.It is vividly reproduced today in the stories of important historical figures and events .This paper attempts to provide a better understanding of Chinese culture and management practices by exploring the most important historical fig
13、ures and philosophies of Chinese culture,as they relate to ethical behavior. Confucian Ethics One cannot explain any aspect of Chinese culture,including ethical behavior,without mentioning the most important philosopher in Chinese history. Confucius was born the child of a single mother during the S
14、pring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. This child would grow up to be the single most influential individual in all of Chinese history,although most of his influence came after his death. For thousands of years,up until the fall of the imperial system in China in 1912(when the Qing Dynasty was
15、replaced with a republic form of government),Chinese school children would raise their hands in respect to Confucius at the start of the school day. The children would recite the saying of Confucius until they were permanently recorded into memory. With the fall of the imperial system of governance,
16、Confucian teachings were eliminated； however,the ideals espoused by Confucius never left the Chinese people.In fact,recently Confucianism has been reintroduced to the Chinese education system .Confucian values require that an individual first honor ones duty to family.The individual is not seen as i
17、mportant as the group.Individual needs are sacrificed in order that group needs can be realizedWeimin stresses the point that Confucian values can be very beneficial to maintaining an orderly society. He points out that in Confucian societies, each person is viewed as being in the center of a relati
18、onship,not simply an isolated individual.Each person has a duty to family and society that supersedes responsibility to oneself.Confucius placed great importance on ethical behavior and propriety,and dictated proper roles for a zunzi,or gentleman,or person of honor.Confucian duty begins with relatio
19、nships with others. At the center of Confucianism lies relationships.Called the Five Relationships,appropriate behavior is dictated in terms of ones relationship with superiors,parents,husband/wife, elders,and friends.Confucius was very concerned with relationships and social propriety. Ones loyalty
20、 to family is primary.After family comes friends and saving face,and finally, ones duty to the law(see the figure below).Without a significant relationship,the duty of ethical action is diminished.Attitude about ethical behavior and subjective norms of perception strongly influence ethical behavior
21、in Chinese dominated business 3 organizations.Ethical behavior,or morality,is viewed within the context of the relationship .Chinese sociologist,Fey Shiaw-Tong, proposes that in Chinese culture,the closeness of the relationship determines the level of treatment one receives. Laozi andZhuangzi While
22、Confucianism and the views of Mencius promoted a rigid set of social standards,Daoism promotes a rather passive approach to life in general,and to ethical behavior in particular.Little is known about the life of the Chinese figure who stated the religious and philosophical movement,Laozi or“old mast
23、er.”Laozi proposed that the universe was ruled by the Great Unity， commonly known as Yin and Yang.Yin and Yang do not represent the struggle between good and evil,in fact,both Yin and Yang represent goodness.Evil develops when there is an imbalance between Yin and Yang.A central element of the Daois
24、t belief system is that nature exists in harmony,and mankind should also strive for harmony and balance.The dao,or the“way,”according to Laozi,was an unexplainable force that maintained balance.Humans should strive for balance in their lives,and resist doing anything that goes against the dao.Laozi
25、and his book,the Daodejing,have been fundamental in shaping generations of philosophical,political,and religious thinking in China. is influence is particularly significant in the importance of harmony and the maintenance of good relationships among people.Daoism proposes that the way is all powerfu
26、l and that no human action can change this natural order.Human action must be consistent with the way,and that as situations change,human actions must change.Daoism promotes flexibility and revision and promotes in some ways a more situational view of ethical behavior.A second figure in the developm
27、ent of Daoism is Zhuangzi,who is purported to have authored a book by the same name.Religion,of whatever variety in China,causes one to ponder the morality of their actions.In his often mentioned dream of being a butterfly,Zhuangzi wakes only to wonder if he was dreaming about being a butterfly,or i
28、f the butterfly is now dreaming about being him.Since the world around us may be an illusion,it made no sense to ponder the differences between right and wrong.While Daoism takes a passive approach to ethical questions,it and the Chinese community traditions are not insignificant in shaping ethical
29、behavior in China. The other researchers found that religion played an important role in determining ethical orientation in Chinese culture.While Christianity correlated more closely with higher educational standards,followers of the traditional Chinese religious tradition showed a greater concern f
30、or ethical behavior than individuals with no religious orientation. Zhuangzi,like Laozi,took a more mystical approach to the subject of right and wrong. While Daoism takes a passive approach to ethical questions,it and the Chinese community traditions are not insignificant in shaping ethical behavio
31、r in China. The other researchers found that religion played an important role in determining ethical orientation in Chinese culture.While Christianity correlated more closely with higher educational standards,followers of the traditional Chinese religious tradition showed a greater concern for ethical behavior than individuals with no religious orientation. Religion,of whatever variety in China,causes one to ponder the morality of their actions.
