The article, ‘why bluffing is ethical’ by Albert Carr, strives to explain the relationship between the act of bluffing and its ethical composition. It is clear from the writer’s description that the contemporary world views bluffing as a form of cheating and is an unethical act in the business world. However, Carr explains that bluffing is strategically an approach to reveal the truth of a situation step by step. The writer provides logical instances and examples of transactional situations where people bluff, after which he explains the ethical issues behind the act. Additionally, Carr employs the psychiatric approach to link truth and bluffing, showing the various ways in which the truth can be established from people who bluff. A critical evaluation of Carr’s account on the ethical concerns on bluffing reveals a controversy which would be best settled by the perspective of the reader.
Carr agrees that a businessman earns respect depending on how closer he comes to the truth. Most analysts on the action of bluffing only consider the situations that make the individual bluff, which in essence have no connection with the moral makeup of the individual. The writer quotes Henry Taylor’s statement that falsehood ceases to be falsehood when it is understood to both parties that the truth is not expected to be spoken. Additionally, the writer cites the analogy of the criminal court in which the criminal is expected to tell the truth and in the event he pleads ‘not guilty’, everyone oversights the fact that the defendant’s attorney has a responsibility to protect his client from telling the truth. His mention of these normal actions in most judicial setups brings out the ethical question of criminal defense systems. People consider this an ethical practice without consideration of how the truth is tossed between the two attorneys handling the case.
The writer describes various situations employees find themselves in, where they are asked questions and say ‘no’ when they actually mean a ‘yes’. The ethical consideration of bluffing in the writer’s context is based on the need to provide the most suitable solution for the situation at hand. The conflict of answers by employees displays them protecting their positions. This is the reason why its ethical relevance is termed as a game in comparison to ethics in religion which is compact and based on the truth only. Through his declaration with reference to the business, which he is the president, he highlights the absence of ethical concerns from his employees or his customers and relates it to their productivity and ultimately terms it the highest form of ethical standards in business. A critical analysis to his way of thinking reveals ethics in business as a game of which the one who wins demonstrates the highest standards of ethical behavior.
This declaration shows that the persona was integrating ethical standards of the business with his personal characteristics. The writer’s analysis of his business reveals various practices questionable but considered normal business activities. He aired advertisements that displayed his product in worthier terms than it really was and kept much improved products from the market with the fear of shaking the market waveform of an inferior product already circulating . These are a few of the concerns the writer mentions in his descriptions and questions the ethical practice behind these actions. His personal attributes were generally conforming to the ethical expectations of his position. However, the numerous strategies of deception done by his corporation reveal its deep entrenchment into unethical practices.
In his explanation on the pressure that compels people to deceive, he highlights that most executives for the sake of interests of the company or themselves, find themselves practicing varying forms of deception to customers, labor unions, government officials and other dealers. These individuals use the act of bluffing to convince other parties or individuals on their perceived worth. Furthermore, it is a logical fact that when these executives seek to tell the plain truth throughout their dealings, they are bound to lose viable opportunities that would shape their businesses for the better. On the other hand, the executives suffer self-emotional conflict as a result of bluffing owing to religious grounds of reasoning. Therefore, executives partake self-evaluation measures to ensure that the bluffing they undertake do not result into loss of self-respect or emotional disturbances.
The balance of personal integrity and the requirements of success in a business make executives feel justified for the bluffs they make. This overshadows the ethical concerns of its activities given that a business is a corporation with various individuals with the common goal of ensuring the success of the corporation. Owing to this fact, the unethical practices are viewed strategically as approaches for the implementation of organizational objectives. The writer explains this as an inheritable game passed from different forms of business to others and played across different levels. In his explanation of the poker analogy, the writer displays business like a game of gambling in which the winner is considered the smartest and most skilled. As a matter of fact, to succeed in either gambling or business, one requires considerable degrees of self-discipline and swift ability to respond to emerging opportunities. Poker does not consider the ethical basis of the moves or tactics a player employs to ensure he wins one or two rounds on the table.
However, both poker and business have their ethical considerations. Both outline unethical practices that are not condoned in their processes or transactions. The other part of the activity is left free for use of skills and special tactics to ensure dominance. This provides a platform for all forms of bluffs. The writer indicates that violations of the ethical ideals of the society are common in business, but they are not necessarily violation of business principles. The writer highlights the example of a bluff from a company executive in Washington in order to prove the assertion. The company, a firm manufacturing a well-known mouthwash, was accused of using a cheap form of alcohol which had health effects on its consumers. The chief executive’s testimony was a bluff that settled the case as the government was unable to prove the case. He highlighted the competitive nature of the markets, the need to come up with strategies that would enhance the company’s competitive advantage over others and the fact they followed the rule of law to the latter.
The writer explains that ethical quotes and tags sensitizing businesses on the need to observe ethical considerations are nothing but illusions. In this context, the writer bases his explanation on the contemporary business world. He explains the moral need for bluffing in business. He explains that it is possible for a company to make more profit without squeezing competitors, suppliers and consumers too hard. This means that the businessman can use bluffing to gain more profit while maintaining ethics in the society of his customers and other dealers. Ultimately, a businessman’s decision to enter the world of business shows a decision to master the principles of the game with an inclusion of its special ethics clause. With this decision in mind, occasional bluffs will be justified by his economic pressures and the needs of his business for the purposes of stability. As a matter of fact, it signals the businessman to play to win with strategies that would conform to the ethical considerations of the immediate society.
In conclusion, Carr, through this report, alienates business practices from the ethical considerations of the society. He tends to provide strategic justification for various questionable actions that advantage businesses over other businesses. In this context, the art of bluffing is explained as a strategy for people in business to post their worth in attractive and appealing figures as well as gaining competitive advantage over other firms. Carr’s constant comparison to poker reveals the importance of success in businesses. His definition of a good and ethical businessman is one who observes his reputation for integrity, honesty and decency and emerges victorious in his business dealings. This displays the individual as an ethical and observant member of the community with an understanding that his actions in the business arena are mere survival strategies for his business. It is entirely possible to develop different perspectives to his school of thought basing on the varying spheres of ethics in different societies.
Works Cited
Carr, Albert. "Is Business Bluffing Ethical?" Havard Business Review 46.1 (2008): 143-153.
Emerson, Robert W. Business Law. New York: Barron's Educational Series, 2009.
McGraw-Hill. International Business, Student Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2007.
Shaw, William H. Business Ethics. New York: Cengage Learning, 2007.
—. Business Ethics: A Textbook With Cases. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010.
