We can teach ethics as we try to teach any other subject, but there is always the concern that, despite a high level of interest from students, the issues remain of academic rather than practical interest. The main problem of teaching ethics - at any level and to any audience - is that we can take a horse to the water - but can we make it drink the water?

Can ethics be taught? Or, more specifically, can business ethics/Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) be taught at Business and Management Schools as part of an MBA program?

Yes - and no. Yes, we as professors can teach ethics theory, as we teach other theoretical frameworks, conceptual models and abstract philosophies. We can present examples of ethical dilemmas. We can describe case studies of organizations facing ethical challenges. We can document the efforts of many companies seeking to implement CSR initiatives. We can analyze why certain individuals indulge in unethical acts or practices, either on their own or as one of a number of people in a specific organization, in a certain situation.

But also - no, ethics can't be taught. We can't teach MBA students to be ethical. They make their own decisions. We can't replace parents or ministers of religion or other faith leaders, and this would not be our job as professors. We can't necessarily influence the moral code of our students. We can't even prove categorically that the adoption of a code of business ethics or CSR compliance can make companies more profitable, less likely to incur losses, or even be able to attract more employees.

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