Ethics and the Traditional Mass Market - Essay Example

Ethics and the Market The market has always dominated the world, whether the traditional Mauss market or the modern market. It is a form of social organization that inevitably leads to inequalities and development of classes. A market where the profit motive is deemed as the most essential incentive cannot be ethical under any circumstances due to its self-centered nature. This would mean that there is nothing a person would refuse or feel morally obligated to not do in pursuit of materialistic gain. The materials used to establish the theme of ethics and markets have clearly outlined the human relationships that are involved and the use of moral values in dealing with others. In the novel The Ladies Paradise, the new recruit Denise is not used to displaying her salesgirl charm and feel violated, defenseless and naked because she is treated like a machine for modeling clothes. The job requirement was that the women had “to be attractive for the sales rooms” she consents to be attractive according to the stores standards to the leering men and the unethical Monsieur Jouve who would harass the girls that worked in the store by forcing them to buy into his good-will and making sexual advances towards them which was seen as a privilege given his position as the owner. This goes against the moral concept of the market as the Monsieur is only seeking to maximize his profit in this case his sexual gratification. The fulfillment of self-interest will contribute to the common good in the market according to John Stuart Mill; the Mauss theory acknowledges that the market cannot ignore the ethics of self interest in the market. His anthropology is based on the aspect of giving and receiving in the market as a basis for social integration that is important in the economic interactions. Honesty and respect acknowledges the morality of exchange and interdependence of social relations in the market. Mauss anthropology emphasizes that responsibility is a fundamental constituent of ethical subjectivity therefore responsibility for other human beings legitimizes economic actions. Monsieur Jouve could not control his desire for young girls and kept harassing them creating a negative atmosphere for the girls at work. Tono Bungay novel offers an ethical critique of the impact of the late nineteenth century capitalist modernization in the homeland. The story also traces the effects of the accelerated economic transformation to the social arrangements and classes in the society. The ethical dilemma arises where the aristocrat society subjects the bourgeoisie to exploitation and machinations in entrepreneurship. There is a struggle of capital and labour. This also describes the modern market. The distribution of economic opportunity does not involve questions of blame and responsibility. Self-sacrifice in the face of economic dilemma leads Denise in an attempt to balance things out so as not to feel in anyone’s debt, she must uphold an image as a self-sufficient, self-made lady and this leads to her seeking employment at the Ladies Paradise even with the disapproval of her uncle but at the same she puts his feelings in consideration "Yes, uncle, unless it pains you too much." (Emile 30). This is explained by market exchange ad relationships that are maintained through moderation of desire in human interaction. The uncle had to swallow his pride a hatred for the owner of Lady’s Paradise and allow his niece to look for a job in the store. In understanding business and its nature, Tono Bungay novel structured in the late nineteenth-century economy involved balancing different social spheres and also contractual relations among supposedly equal economic individuals. The economy was deemed to function competently and beneficial to all when it was generated among independent individuals. Therefore, in theory leaving an economy to regulate itself would be generating a natural balance among the individual members and thereby correcting unnatural hierarchies based on already established status. The status assigned various members a secure standing in the interconnected world. The text separates business from other influences of life by saying that business is business and there is no taking unfair advantage or exploitation when actions are legal. This is seen when George, a young lad brought into his uncle’s patent medicine empire, admits that the whole packet of tonics and potions, such as Tono-Bungay, was “unmitigated fraud by any honest standard, the giving of nothing coated in advertisements for money”. Denise is also utilized and exploited in the department store. According to Mauss there is no free gift and there is always an ulterior motive behind a free gift. In the story Tono Bungay there is the statement “Yes, I thought it over—thoroughly enough—Trade rules the world. Wealth rather than trade! The thing was true, and true too was my uncle’s proposition that the quickest way to get wealth is to sell the cheapest thing possible in the dearest bottle” this shows the exploitation of masses and the lack of ethics in business dealings through cheating and manipulating for maximum profits. Some gifts come with a condition like Mouret making acquaintance with Baron Hartmann of Crédit Immobilier who had made a contract with the authorities for certain developments ad Mouret needed to e in his favours so as to expand the Ladies Paradise.“Hence his strong desire to make Baron Hartmann's acquaintance, when he learnt that the Crédit Immobilier had made a contract with the authorities to open and build the Rue du Dix-Décembre, on condition that they received the frontage ground on each side of the street” (Emile 66). In the Tono-Bungay Uncle Edward Ponderovo summons George to come run the new company, Uncle Edward Ponderovo had amassed so much wealth and puts his niece George under the delayed obligation of his gift-giving. He buys his long-term loyalty by gaining his gratitude through his deeds of extravagant generosity. There is an interconnected relationship between business or materialism and ethics. At first George took the moral high ground and refuses the offer because he knows that his uncle’s product is bogus, but kept afloat through aggressive advertising and not by an intrinsic constructive property. George is distressed by lack of ethics in what he deems as modern life’s predisposition to market goods with no intrinsic value and products that contribute nothing of substance to the economy or to the wellbeing of the country. However, he is also smitten with Marion and he sees that the only solution that would convince her to marry him would be by the management of his uncle’s affairs so that he gains the necessary income (Wells 231). This is very unfortunate because it is ill motivated by desire and lacking in moral and ethical grounding. The Jiro Dreams of Sushi, is an American documentary that follows a sushi master known as Jiro Ono the owner of a three star restaurant called Michelin and his quest to perfect the art of sushi. Together with his sons they have the philosophy of diligence and hardwork. The film depicts the work ethic of Jiro who makes sushi professionally and requires reservations to e made y the customers. With the fame and perfectionism the reservations may e made up to a year in advance. The film touches on the morals and ethics of the portrayed Jiro, his sons and his workers in various situations. The sushi master utilizes anthropology by Mauss of giving and receiving, in this case the gift need not be material possession but a favour would also work the same way. Altruism, gratitude and mutual satisfaction is the basis is the foundation of social integration in the society. He gives his workers the opportunity to train under him so as to make the perfect sushi for the customer’s and will not let work on the meal unless they have perfected it. Yoshikazu, his eldest son is obligated to succeed his father in the restaurant and therefore still works for his, this has led to the adoption of the same work ethics as his father while the other son has opened a similar restaurant as his father, this is the gift that Jiro has conferred to his sons without the need of it being a material possession. The logic of the gift belongs to the realm of the visible; this is because it stands on appearances, presence, and public recognition. For example, appearance of free will is seen when: “pains are taken to show one’s freedom and autonomy as well as one’s magnanimity, yet all the time one is actuated by the mechanisms of obligation which are resident in the gifts themselves”( Wells 21). In conclusion, Mauss gift-giving and exchange practices that he described were often seen as self-centered, but also had a concern for other people as well; he emphasized that the main point of the gift was that it furthers self- interest and concern for others at the same time. The paper has expounded on the characteristics of various relationships in different scenarios and dilemma faced when making decision that involve other people’s feelings while balancing one’s self interest. The nature of the market affords one an opportunity to make the right decision based on their moral values and take the consequences thereof. Works Cited: David Gelb .Jiro Dreams of Sushi. 2011. Print. Mauss, Marcel. The Gift: The Form and Reason of Exchange in Archaic Societies. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. Wells, H G. Tono-bungay. Lanham: Start Classics, 2013. Print. Zola, Emile. Ladies' Paradise. S.l.: Sovereign, 2013. Print. Read More