Permission to Steal: Revealing the Roots of Corporate Scandal--An Address to My Fellow Citizens (Blackwell Public Philosophy Series)

Citing recent examples including Enron, Arthur Andersen, and WorldCom, Permission to Steal explores what went wrong and advocates a universal reassessment of what is considered “good” in corporate America. A fascinating exploration of the recent corporate scandals which have rocked the global business community. Written with sharp and compelling style, suitable for students, professionals, and general readers. Companion website offers discussion points for the book as well as an up-to-date chronology of ongoing corporate scandals. Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 Introduction: The Stories......Page 11 Choosing a Path in the Woods......Page 20 A Look in the Mirror is Not Reassuring......Page 29 An Ancient Fable Says It All......Page 30 Lead Us Not Into Temptation......Page 33 The Village......Page 40 How Bad Can It Get? The Unspeakable Crimes of the Very Good......Page 43 The Human Alone......Page 45 The Pendulum Swings Right......Page 47 Free Market Liberalism and Village Conservatism......Page 51 The Origins of the Moral Human......Page 54 Necessary Virtues......Page 60 The Collapse of Every Restriction......Page 62 The Transformation of the Landscape......Page 68 The Pension Betrayal......Page 79 The Hood Robin Syndrome......Page 82 Permission to Steal......Page 84 Turning the Elephant......Page 87 Picking Up the Pieces......Page 88 Learning to Tell the Truth......Page 92 Regaining the Duty of Stewardship......Page 94 Re-Visioning the Republic......Page 96 Ending the Crime Wave......Page 101 Finding Peace......Page 103 A Concluding Note......Page 109 Bibliography......Page 111 Index......Page 113 Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction: The Stories 11 Choosing a Path in the Woods 20 1 The World, the Flesh, and the Devil 29 A Look in the Mirror is Not Reassuring 29 An Ancient Fable Says It All 30 Lead Us Not Into Temptation 33 The Village 40 How Bad Can It Get? The Unspeakable Crimes of the Very Good 43 The Human Alone 45 2 The Lethal Marriage of Ideology and Opportunity 47 The Pendulum Swings Right 47 Free Market Liberalism and Village Conservatism 51 The Origins of the Moral Human 54 Necessary Virtues 60 The Collapse of Every Restriction 62 The Transformation of the Landscape 68 The Pension Betrayal 79 The Hood Robin Syndrome 82 Permission to Steal 84 3 Humility and Hope 87 Turning the Elephant 87 Picking Up the Pieces 88 Learning to Tell the Truth 92 Regaining the Duty of Stewardship 94 Re-Visioning the Republic 96 Ending the Crime Wave 101 Finding Peace 103 A Concluding Note 109 Bibliography 111 Index 113 American culture applauds those who will do anything to make it to the top. The past decades have seen success redefined in terms of more wealth and power. Citing examples including Enron, Arthur Andersen, and WorldCom, this work explores what went wrong, and advocates a reassessment of what is considered 'good' in corporate America