Business Ethics

The seminar teaches the theoretical foundations of business ethics. An initial focus is on the distinction between business law and business ethics. Since business law sets barriers to economic activity (simple examples: prohibition of drug dealing, arms dealing) or regulates economic activity (examples: shop opening hours, price regulations, food law, restaurant law) and protects all market players, such as employees or consumers (labour law, consumer law), the fundamental question arises: Why business ethics?

If the law describes and limits the framework of economic activity and guides economic behaviour, is there a need for additional ethical standards? What is the relationship between business ethics and business law? What interrelationships characterise both value systems? How do they influence each other? What are the sources of business law and business ethics?

What influence do business ethics have on corporate governance systems, for example? How does business ethics determine corporate social responsibility? What is the significance of business ethics for compliance or "compliance management systems"?

Do business ethics only play a role in the context of business administration or should economic decisions not be measured against business ethical values?

How do we recognise the ethical responsibility for future generations of people, for other living beings and for our environment in our economic activities?

What are the interdependencies between economic systems (e.g. capitalism, socialism, state capitalism, social market economy, liberal market economy) and economic ethical value systems?

Where are the historical roots of business ethics and what evolutionary paths has business ethics taken to date?

The exemplary questions raised show what a broad, exciting and complex field of academic research this seminar covers. There will be two introductory events at the beginning of the winter semester. These events will teach the general basics of business ethics. At the same time, seminar topics (depending on the inclination of the participants) will be developed and issued with recommended reading.

At the end of the winter semester, all seminar presentations must be given in a block event. The written assignments can then be written during the semester break and must be submitted by the beginning of the summer semester 2026.