Tightening the ties that bind - Defending a contractarian approach to business ethics

This reply to Professor Shaw discusses the issue of hypernorms and clarifie s other elements of Integrative Social Contract Theory (ISCT). It emphasize s that ISCT requires decision-makers to assess carefully the strength and c larity of local norms and to search for hypernorms that are relevant to the specific decision at hand. The conclusion offers the hope that further dis cussion of the book, Ties That Bind, will bear more practical and intellect ual fruit.