Final answer:
An ethical firm selects suppliers by considering care ethics, the categorical imperative, Confucian values, consequentialism, and corporate responsibility, ensuring that their business practices promote fairness, environmental sustainability, and societal well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ethical firm would strive to select suppliers for the supply chain guided primarily by principles that often encompass care ethics, the categorical imperative, values from Confucianism, consequentialism, and corporate responsibility.
For instance, the firm may seek suppliers that follow fair labor practices, adhere to environmental standards, and produce quality products without causing harm to society. These choices are driven by a corporate responsibility to do what is right not just legally, but morally and socially as well.
The notion of the categorical imperative, a concept developed by philosopher Immanuel Kant, suggests that actions are morally right if they can be universalized and followed by everyone.
This implies that an ethical firm would select suppliers whose practices meet high moral standards that could be applied globally without causing harm. Additionally, consequentialism would motivate a firm to consider the outcomes of their choices, ensuring their supply chain decisions do not lead to negative consequences for people or the planet.
Furthermore, stemming from Confucianism, the ethical selection of suppliers could be informed by the dao, an ethical principle that encourages harmony in relationships and actions.