Ethical Justice In Monsanto

Being a multinational supplier of genetically modified seeds, Monsanto posses severe economic impacts in the international marketplace. Originally, the Bt Cotton seeds should have produced positive externalities upon the Indian economy, however, the enforcement of the biological patent disables the economy from reaching the potential positive effects. Initially, the purpose of the genetically modified cotton seeds were to substantially increase the production of cotton. Higher crop yields would have resulted in cheaper prices for consumerism, as economies of scale would have taken effect. However, as the revenue generated by farmers cannot cover variable costs, a shut down point will be reached within the industry. Farming revenue is irregular
Distributive justice is the concern for fair treatment towards stakeholders.8 Retributive is the concern that punishment is justified by the offence.9 Corrective is the procedure that stakeholders are compensated appropriately for wrongs that are suffered.10 Procedural is the involvement of impartial application of rules or procedures.11 In this case, the distributive property of ethical justice has been violated, as Monsanto does not show concern towards the treatment of its stakeholders holders, the Indian farmers in general. The positive and negative implications of biological patents have not been distributed equally among Monsanto and its stakeholders, as benefits are practically entirely allocated towards Monsanto and the burdens have been allocated towards the
Kantiansim is separated into two sections of categorical imperative, universalizability and respect. Universalizability asks “whether the maxim of your action could become one that everyone could act upon in similar circumstances.”14 The definition of respects pertains to the acting of manner that values humanity with “intrinsic worth, and respecting their rationality by treating them as an “end-in-themselves” and never as a means only to reach an objective.”15 In this case, both definitions of categorical imperative have been defied. Universalizability has been defied as if all seed suppliers were to make biological patents a universal law, the industry would wither and the progression towards other industries would become evident in the future. Respect has been violated as Monsanto is utilizing farmers as a means-to-an-end to maximize profit, rather than keeping interests of the farmers as an