Question

Machiavelli believed that it is man's nature to use ethics to manipulate others and strive at all costs to obtain and keep power, often ruthlessly. How will you protect yourself from the "dark side" of human nature, and acquire managerial power while operating within a morally defensible business ethics framework?

Answer 1

To ethically acquire managerial power, one should rely on reason and moral principles like the Principle of Utility to transcend egoistic pursuits and align actions with universally agreed values, fostering ethical leadership.

Step-by-step explanation:

The teachings of Machiavelli and Nietzsche present complex challenges for those aspiring to acquire managerial power ethically. To protect oneself from the 'dark side' of human nature, it's essential to operate within a moral framework that favors reason and the common good over egoistic pursuits. By using reason, one can navigate the precarious balance between authority and virtue, grounding their actions in principles that are consistent, universalizable, and conducive to ethical leadership. To illustrate, adopting the Principle of Utility at the United Nations to resolve conflicts without violence shows a reliance on a commonly agreed principle of the Good that transcends selfish desires. This application of reason and moral principles to the domain of power and managerial ethics suggests that leaders should consistently align their actions with their values, persuade others of their moral stands, and adhere to a framework that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of all individuals.