Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T14:55:33.932Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Deception and Mutual Trust: A Reply to Strudler1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

J. Gregory Dees
Affiliation:
Harvard University University of Maryland
Peter C. Cramton
Affiliation:
Harvard University University of Maryland

Abstract:

Alan Strudler has written a stimulating and provocative article about deception in negotiation. He presents his views, in part, in contrast with our earlier work on the Mutual Trust Perspective. We believe that Strudler is wrong in his account of the ethics of deception in negotiation and in his quick dismissal of the Mutual Trust Perspective. Though his mistakes may be informative, his views are potentially harmful to business practice. In this paper, we present arguments against Strudler’s position and attempt to salvage the Mutual-Trust Perspective from his attack. Strudler’s work reaffirms the need for a more pragmatic approach to business ethics. We close the paper with a renewed call for more constructive and practical approaches to business ethics research.

Type
Replies
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Annette, Baier: 1985. “Doing Without Moral Theory?” Postures of the Mind: Essays on Mind and Morals (Metheun, London), pp. 228245. (Also reprinted in Clarke and Simpson, 1989, pp. 2948, page references in the text are to the reprinted version.)Google Scholar
John, R. Boatright: 1992. “Morality in Practice: Dees, Cramton, and Brier Rabbit,” Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 6373.Google Scholar
Bradley, F. H.: 1927. Ethical Studies (Oxford University Press, Oxford).Google Scholar
Albert, Carr: 1968. “Is Business Bluffing Ethical?” Harvard Business Review, vol. 46 no. 1 (Jan./Feb.), pp. 143152.Google Scholar
Stanley, G. Clarke and Evan, Simpson (eds.): 1989. Anti-Theory in Ethics and Moral Conservatism (State University of New York Press, Albany).Google Scholar
Peter, C. Cramton and Dees, J. Gregory: 1993. “Promoting Honesty in Negotiation: An Exercise in Practical Ethics,” Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 3 no. 4, pp. 359394.Google Scholar
Dees, J. Gregory and Cramton, Peter C.: 1991. “Shrewd Bargaining on the Moral Frontier: Toward a Theory of Morality in Practice,” Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 1 no. 2 pp. 135167.Google Scholar
Kevin, Gibson: 1994. “Harmony, Hobbes and Rational Negotiation: A Reply to Dees and Cramton,” Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 4 no. 3, pp. 373381.Google Scholar
John, Kennan and Robert, Wilson: 1993. “Bargaining with Private Information,” Journal of Economic Literature, vol. 31 no. 1, pp. 45104.Google Scholar
Howard, Raiffa: 1982. The Art and Science of Negotiation: How to Resolve Conflicts and Get the Best Out of Bargaining, (Harvard University Press, Cambridge).Google Scholar
Alan, Strudler: 1995. “On the Ethics of Deception in Negotiation,” Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 795812.Google Scholar
Anne, Tenbrunsel: 1995. Justifying Unethical Behavior: The Role of Expectations of Others Behavior and Uncertainty, doctoral dissertation, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Department of Organizational Behavior, Northwestern University.Google Scholar