Introduction In the book If Aristotle Ruled General Motors, Tom Morris argues that the teachings of the ancients can and should be applied to today's societies. His message is that the four virtues – truth, beauty, goodness and unity – constitute the foundation of human excellence. Putting them into practice leads not only to self-fulfillment, but ultimately to an open, inspiring, and ethical work environment that is more productive and successful in the long term. The purpose of this essay is to examine how Morris treats the ethical system in relation to these four virtues. Ethics and Big Business It's hard not to be cynical about the way “big business” deals with ethics in today's world. In many companies, where the only important value is the final result, most managers limit themselves to formally supporting the ethical life and management of their companies. Morris defines morality as that aspect of our nature that tends towards the good, and points out that most people have misunderstood this dimension of human life. After searching through thousands of quotes, Morris came to the conclusion that most people's attitudes toward ethics and morality were fundamentally negative. That is, that morality was somehow instituted to prevent us from truly enjoying life. They view ethics as a restrictive form of social control. Morris believes that until we free ourselves from this illusion, “we will not appreciate one of the most important foundations for positive corporate spirit and sustainable success” (Morris p. 116). The fundamental question The question “What's in it for me?” The mentality that so many people live with in today's world may seem selfish. Morris believes it's anything but paper... and ultimately helps create a root system that digs deep into the soil of commerce. It places the organization on a solid foundation of good management principles and shows the true spirit of greatness that has been missing in the corporate world for a long time. And I firmly believe that until America's corporate leaders put aside situational ethics and replace them with good old-fashioned morality, our nation will continue to slide down the proverbial rabbit hole into darkness and decadence. Until corporate America, and indeed the entire global corporate world, embraces this concept and operates according to its principles, we will not see any kind of economic revival until Jesus comes. Works Cited Morris, Tom. “If Aristotle ran General Motors: the new soul of business”. New York: HenryHolt and Company, 1997. The Holy Bible (King James Version).