Economic Behaviour and Responsibility: The Example of the Soda and Chlorine Industry

The Paper discusses the relationship between economic action and responsibility. Starting point of the argument is a comparison of positions by Socrates and representatives of modern economics towards the relationship between economy and the environment. As historical example the authors regard the development of the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), particularly with respect to their role for ozone layer depletion. The second part of the paper investigates the relationship between the occurring phenomenon of joint production and the problem of responsibility on a general scale. Special emphasis is given to ignorance concerning emerging joint products. Finally, general approaches for solutions to the problem of responsibility are examined.