The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits

a)  Friedman's major theme from this article is, as its title suggests, that the responsibility of a business is to increase profit.  He rejects the notion that businesses should have a "social conscience" beyond that of "staying within the rules of the game."  Friedman sees any action by a firm that attempts to exercise "social responsibility" while at the same time reducing profits as fraud.  It is fine for an individual acting on their own behalf look out for public self-interest, but when they are acting on behalf of a business their one priority should be increasing profit.

b)  Individualism seems to be very important to Friedman, especially when it comes to business.  Friedman believes that a business must first look out for its own good.  If one is not trying to increase profit, they are committing fraud.  He believes that businesses have no social responsibility and that it is not a businesses function act in society's interest.

c)  I do see a conflict between business and social responsibility.  I agree with Friedman in that businesses need to strive for efficiency.  The more efficient a business is, the more profits it will generate and thus the more the employees will be paid.  It is then the responsibility of the individual to act according to their own sense of social responsibility.  Businesses should not decide what to do with their employees/owners resources because that is not their purpose -- hat is the responsibility of the government.