A Historical Approach to Understanding Values and Its Importance for Corporate Responsibility

Abstract

The chapter situates the desirable and declared value concept of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the present regression of moral values in Western society and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The current situation is analysed from a historical perspective and finally described and interpreted as a challenge of capitalism. From a philosophical perspective, the crises of values is caused by a modern dualist conception of the corporate goals. This leads to the separation of economics from the social and environmental context in the interest of pursuing financial prosperity and the related erosion of moral value that has to be restored and applied in practice.