open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/35033

Whistleblowing as Ethical Obligation and its Limit

日本語

2005-07-17

The Philosophical Society of Hokkaido University

Annals of the Philosophical Society of Hokkaido University

41

79-101

Whistleblowing is a topic in the field of business ethics. It is an effective measure to prevent organizations from harming the public. On the other hand, however, some people consider whistleblowing as an immoral action. There is a serious conflict with regard to the moral status of whistleblowing. In order to solve this problem, contemporary moral philosophers have attempted to pose some theories to justify the whistleblowing. I think, however, those theories do not seem to succeed. Some moral philosophers think that the duty to blow the whistle is overridden by other moral obligations or rights, and then it disappears. But this type of thought over looks both importance of the duty of whistleblowing and whistleblower's own interests. In this article, I present an alternative view which could take account of importance of the duty of whistleblowing and worker's important interests. This view indicates a viable standard of judgment which serves the workers who must decide whether he/she blows the whistle or not.

紀要論文

Version of Record

0287-2560

AN0015042X