April 1980 · Vol. 9 No. 2 · p. 38
Book Review
Ethics in Business and Labor
J. Daniel Hess. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1977. 88 pages.
Professor Hess, who teaches at Goshen College, has written a concise, lucid and highly readable little volume on a whole series of topics such as affluence, alienation, fragmentation, labor, management, church unity, and “Lessons from the Past.” For me the title was somewhat misleading; the author hardly touches on the pressing problems of labor-management relations but focuses instead on the need for Christian “wholeness” and integrity within labor, within management, and within the Christian church in general. A more descriptive title might be: “Christian Ethics: A Call to Wholeness in Practical Living.”
The book boasts several strengths. Each chapter is logically and helpfully organized under the subheadings: Purposes, Essay, Questions for Discussion, An Activity. Such a format makes the material useful as a study guide in almost any setting. Without parading prooftexts the author is soundly Biblical in his presentation. Throughout his analysis Hess emphasizes cardinal ethical principles and sharpens important ethical issues. The short bibliographies at the end of each chapter should be helpful, especially for non-experts.
A fair analysis cannot overlook the limitations or shortcomings. The author tries to cover too much material with the result that hardly anything is discussed in depth. Sometimes the statements are very elementary or vague. “Power should be used to fight demonic forces” (p. 44). “Is God a creative person” (p. 81)? Also, the author seems to assume that all his readers are Christian. Even if that were true, do we have nothing to say to people who are not Christian? Do we have nothing to say to the power structures and destructive tendencies in sub-Christian societies?
Perhaps the most significant limitation is that while the author raises scores of thought-provoking questions, they generally remain unanswered. Perhaps he will write a sequel which will give his readers practical advice on how to deal with strikes, lock-outs, union shop employment, and similar problems.
“The principle of wholeness is supposed to pervade these pages.” It does. The book is recommended for church libraries, discussion groups, congregational seminars, and personal reading.
Professor Hess, who teaches at Goshen College, has written a concise, lucid and highly readable little volume on a whole series of topics such as affluence, alienation, fragmentation, labor, management, church unity, and “Lessons from the Past.” For me the title was somewhat misleading; the author hardly touches on the pressing problems of labor-management relations but focuses instead on the need for Christian “wholeness” and integrity within labor, within management, and within the Christian church in general. A more descriptive title might be: “Christian Ethics: A Call to Wholeness in Practical Living.”
The book boasts several strengths. Each chapter is logically and helpfully organized under the subheadings: Purposes, Essay, Questions for Discussion, An Activity. Such a format makes the material useful as a study guide in almost any setting. Without parading prooftexts the author is soundly Biblical in his presentation. Throughout his analysis Hess emphasizes cardinal ethical principles and sharpens important ethical issues. The short bibliographies at the end of each chapter should be helpful, especially for non-experts.
A fair analysis cannot overlook the limitations or shortcomings. The author tries to cover too much material with the result that hardly anything is discussed in depth. Sometimes the statements are very elementary or vague. “Power should be used to fight demonic forces” (p. 44). “Is God a creative person” (p. 81)? Also, the author seems to assume that all his readers are Christian. Even if that were true, do we have nothing to say to people who are not Christian? Do we have nothing to say to the power structures and destructive tendencies in sub-Christian societies?
Perhaps the most significant limitation is that while the author raises scores of thought-provoking questions, they generally remain unanswered. Perhaps he will write a sequel which will give his readers practical advice on how to deal with strikes, lock-outs, union shop employment, and similar problems.
“The principle of wholeness is supposed to pervade these pages.” It does. The book is recommended for church libraries, discussion groups, congregational seminars, and personal reading.
