IndexIntroductionThe ethical problem in The Wolf of Wall StreetKantianism and business ethicsCorruption of morality in The Wolf of Wall StreetConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionLike Thomas Hobbes, many think that ethics and business are not related to each other others, since those pursuing commercial objections are only concerned with their own self-interest. Greed and corruption have ruined many businessmen. Greed is defined as a selfish desire to obtain personal gain such as power or wealth. In the film “The Wolf of Wall Street”, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Jordan Belfort, we can see that greed and corruption can blind and manipulate the worldly perception of materialism. The Wolf of Wall Street is about a stockbroker “Jordan Belfort”, who tries to make a living in the stock market. Shortly thereafter he started his own business called Stratford Oakmont. His company grew very quickly and he did so by defrauding and influencing many by fabricating his strategies of selling penny and high volatility stocks. As his company grows, so does his gluttony for power. He soon finds himself in a sticky situation when the FBI begins monitoring his illegal money flows. And so he devises a plan to launder his money into foreign accounts and to hide his and his colleagues' indictment. From the story it is clear that "it's all about power and wealth, if someone has it, someone else wants it" (M. Morrone, slide show, 2016). As a result, greed is the driving force that allows someone to create an ethical dilemma for themselves and others and this is evident in this film and story. This article will analyze themes such as exploitation, ethics and deception with historical references and their connection to the concept of greed and the film Wolf of Wall Street. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayEthical Problem in The Wolf of Wall StreetAn ethical problem can be defined as: “situations in which there is a choice to be made between two options, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable way” (Yourdictionary, 2015, par 2).In The Wolf of Wall Street, Belfort's ethical dilemma has to do with his money laundering and stock manipulation tactics sellers would then actively work to drive up their stock prices by inviting people to buy these particular stocks Belfort and his associates would then sell their personal shares after the shares had been inflated, which netted them a huge amount of money. revenue After selling their personal shares, the shares would then collapse and those who had invested would inevitably face a loss of capital. This fraud was conducted hundreds of times during Stratton Oakmont's reign. The main motive behind Jordan Belfort's actions was greed. Although many close relatives criticized him regarding his practices, he morally neglected the matter and did not take it seriously. In relation to greed, we can see in history that there are numerous such cases. In third century Rome we see that greed and the lust for power made the state corrupt. To finance the war, they took from their farmers and taxed them heavily. Furthermore, the generals struggled for power and all this led to the economic, social and political decline of the Roman Empire. Like the Roman Empire, Jordan Belfort fought the federal government to “protect” his company, which ultimately led to its downfall. JordanBelfort relates to the generals and superiors of the Roman Empire because instead of helping those seeking financial return, he exploited them through deception, just as the Romans did with their peasants. Kantianism and business ethicsSecondly, Kantianism founded by Immanuel Kant, which implied the notion that decisions should be based ongood will and not immoral desires. He also states that business and ethics cannot coexist with each other because they contradict each other, which is evident in the Wolf of Wall Street. At the beginning of the film, Jordan Belfort explained his main motivation and his drug of choice. The most addictive element that drives him to pursue what he has achieved is none other than the power of the dollar. Although he had enough to retire and live a stable and lavish lifestyle, he still chose to launch the scandal of his illegal investments, even though he was aware of the consequences that would follow if he were discovered. History reveals similar patterns of illegal practices and manipulation to generate personal wealth driven by greed and self-interest. Past companies, such as Stratton Oakmont, Bernie Madoff Investments, and even major banks, go against this theory. Instead of caring for others and helping people invest their money wisely and systematically, they have deceived their customers or provided them with inaccurate financial investment vehicles. Not only did they engage in unethical practices, but they also manipulated their workers into getting ahead, using bad investment strategies to get rich, like Jordan Belfort and his company. Furthermore, Aristotle once said that “business is not moral when pursued to accumulate wealth” and Jordan Belfort undoubtedly represents this statement. Not only did he act immorally in his personal life, but he used his business to defraud many and obtain a significant amount of wealth, so much so that he had to hide it in foreign accounts. Corruption of Morality in The Wolf of Wall Street Finally, we can see that Jordan Belfort's greed has corrupted his morality of what trust and honesty are. The Golden Rule is a universal belief that everyone should follow, accepted by the vast majority. This golden rule states that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. This rule is not followed by Jordan Belfort, in fact he does the exact opposite. Instead of being honest and providing helpful financial advice to his clients, he manipulated them and stole their money through dishonesty and treachery. He should have run an honest and trustworthy company that took pride in providing financial guidance on their investments and also assisting them on how to get a great return. His practices have led to hundreds of honest people losing their money that they may have saved for retirement or their children's education. His vision during his corrupt reign mimics many points of view in history. During the rise of feudalism, we can see that soldiers and clerks had tasks to perform for economic independence and spiritual and physical protection. Farmers provided labor to support the duties of soldiers and clerks. Instead, the farmers received little to no spiritual protection and guidance during the Viking invasion. The peasants trusted those in power to keep those promises, but instead the peasants were exploited and seen as worthless. This was mainly due to the greed and self-interest of the elites. Farmers were given a false hope of trust and honesty, just like Stratton Oakmont's customers, which led to them suffering financially and mentally. Please note: this is just an example.