Business
I shall begin by defining the two key phrases within the assignment title.
Liberty: "Being free from captivity, imprisonment, slavery or despotic control; right of power to do as one pleases or to do something; freedom from despotic rule personified". (Oxford dictionary 2nd edition)
Prosperity: "To succeed, thrive and make successful". (Oxford dictionary 2nd edition)
Both of these words have a consequential and momentous effect over the forthcoming discussion. It is important to understand their meaning and how possible pollution laws may violate peoples rights.
Having a sense of moral obligation is part of basic human decency regardless to any laws that may or may not be imposed. Never the less it can be difficult to mediate between common sense moral duties and interests. There are several theories that establish duty-based moral standards, especially within the business environment. Balanced and applicable ethical concepts take into account the relative autonomy of business issues while maintaining a strong commitment to basic human values. Enlightened egoism does allow for inviolable rights and duties as it respects minimum rights. It does not see transactions only as a game of reciprocal manipulation which unfortunately has proven to be so often the case over the last ten years. The fact is that both humans and nature have a value of their own and even if an action may not be seen as effecting in either a beneficial or contrary way, all possible consequences must be taken into consideration.
Justice and justice as fairness is an essential part of answering the proposed question. A comprehensive theory bringing together society's benefits and burdens would ably summarise what is just in today's society. The question is would this supposed fair method of common justification resolve our social conflicts?
Rawls says that: "Each person has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberties compatible with similar liberties for all".
This is very true and would commonly be followed but I feel you must look deeper into the common laws of justice to challenge the statement that 'Any pollution law is unjust'. I feel that social and economic qualities should be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged persons or situation. The principle of equal liberty does prohibit force and each citizen's liberties are protected from invasion by others and are equal to those of others. In addition to this, pollution does consume resources inefficiently and it is therefore wrong for firms to pollute, not just on the grounds of the moral obligation they have.
Pollution laws aside, there must be a verification of whether a right is morally acceptable. As there would be conflict from different persons, industries and sectors the best way of analysing this is through one of the most powerful theories of general ethics, The Litmus Test. Immanuel Kant created the test to establish the validity of moral norms. The test also creates a supernorm through which all citizens respect human decency. Using this it [next page]