scholarly journals Adorno's Critical Moral Philosophy and Business Ethics

2021 ◽  
pp. 40-46
Author(s):  
Jaakko Nevasto
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Good Work ◽  
Creative Activity ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Theodor Adorno

Reeves and Sinnicks present Theodor Adorno as a philosopher with a sombre message to business ethics. Capitalist markets distort our needs and work in business organisations stultifies our moral capacities. Thus, the discipline’s self-understanding must be revised, and supplemented with reflections on what would be good work: free creative activity. After raising some questions about their interpretation of Adorno’s writings on human needs, I argue that the paper does not contain all the necessary resources to support its ferociously critical claims. Once such resources are made available, however, the appeal to a notion of good work is no longer viable.

scholarly journals Business Ethics from the Standpoint of Redemption: Adorno on the Possibility of Good Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Craig Reeves ◽  
Matthew Sinnicks
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Social World ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Good Work ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Theodor Adorno

Given his view that the modern world is “radically evil,” Theodor Adorno is an unlikely contributor to business ethics. Despite this, we argue that his work has a number of provocative implications for the field that warrant wider attention. Adorno regards our social world as damaged, unfree, and false, and we draw on this critique to outline why the achievement of good work is so rare in contemporary society, focusing in particular on the ethical demands of roles and the ideological nature of management’s self-understanding. Nevertheless, we show that Adorno’s comments on activities such as art and philosophy mean that it is possible to draw on his work in a way that contributes constructively to the conversation about good and meaningful work within business ethics.

Looking for Answers in All the Wrong Places

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl W. Spurgin
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Moral Theory ◽  
Moral Question ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Way

Abstract:In recent years, many business ethicists have raised problems with the “ethics pays” credo. Despite these problems, many continue to hold it. I argue that support for the credo leads business ethicists away from a potentially fruitful approach found in Hume’s moral philosophy. I begin by demonstrating that attempts to support the credo fail because proponents are trying to provide an answer to the “Why be moral?” question that is based on rational self-interest. Then, I show that Hume’s sentiments-based moral theory provides an alternative to the credo that points toward a more fruitful approach to business ethics. Along the way, I examine a recent social contract alternative to the credo that, despite many appealing features, is less effective than is the Humean alternative. Finally, I develop a Humean approach to business ethics and demonstrate why it is a desirable alternative that business ethicists should explore.

Relevant objectives of modern design

10.12737/3874 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
Дарья Ермилова ◽  
Darya Ermilova
Keyword(s):  
Human Ecology ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Creative Activity ◽  
Modern Design ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
The Status ◽  
Effective Development

The article is devoted to the identification of objectives that relevant for modern design. The author considers the characteristics of design as creative activity directed at satisfying the material and spiritual needs of people and focusing on the needs of the consumer. The author also traces the radical changes in the perspective on the methods and objectives of design activity that have manifested themselves since the beginning of the 20th century, when design acquires the status of a universal creative activity driven by a multitude of human and social needs as turned into meaningful objects and images. Following the general trend towards customization of consumption, design is highly needs-driven. It is recognized as a means of mass communication which is active in the sphere of consumption, regulated consumer activity, and serves as a mediator between the consumer and the producer. The need for the environmentally safe world is regarded by the author as a major social need of the modern consumer. The article outlines the tasks and objectives of modern design as imposed by the ecological orientation, the ecology of culture and human ecology, and which are to be met in the context of an increasing customization and greening of consumption. The author analyses the current design trends towards the natural needs of people and substantiates the validity of design in finding solutions to cultural- and human-ecology-related problems by pointing to the status of the need for cultural continuity, ethnic identification, and cultural diversity of the environment as essential human needs. The author sees it as relevant to develop the aspect of sustainable design that is directly connected with the issues of human ecology, oriented at creating the object environment conducive to creative talents development, favourably influencing the human and reflecting human values, as well as meeting the natural needs of people. One of the peculiarities of the current perspective on design is continuous adjustment of individual objectives, which is accounted for by the ever-changing demands of the individual and the society, and which can be viewed as a foundation for the effective development of design activity

scholarly journals Marx and Weber’s Polar Opposing Theorical Concepts of Capitalism and Christianity: A Tribute to The Depth of Sociological Theory in the 21 Century

2021 ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Private Property ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Power Elite ◽  
Creative Activity ◽  
Productive Force ◽  
Surplus Value ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Religious Dogma ◽  
Species Being

Abstract: Marx and Weber two German Sociologists with opposite social theories centered around Capitalism and Religion in Western Civilization. Context: This effort is the first in a series of articles designed to expose Sociology’s depth in theorical free social thought. The second article in this series will contrast “Conflict Theory” with “Functionalism”. Marx viewed modern capitalist society as an historical process of oppression and alienation. Indeed, labor is viewed as a commodity, Marx refers to this social conditions as Alienated or Estrange labor. Found in this social position humanity cannot experience a creative function; rather experiences oneself passively as the subject separated from the object. Therefore, the perversion of labor into a meaningless crippling productive force. Furthermore, Marx argued the nature of humanity is to transform, and change nature to fit human needs or “Species-Being”. Therefore, Humanity is the past, present and the future. As opposed to the species-nature of animal. Animal behavior is rooted in the internal repetition of activities, accepting what nature has to offer. However, alienated labor perverts’ human character as “species-being” into a means of existence, rather than a free, conscious creative activity. Moreover, humanity feels free only to act in a most animal function (rather than as a free creative activity decreasing humanities advantage over animals). Thus, productive life is species-life where humanity consciously transforms the outside world into ones’ self-identity. Lastly, private property is the all-summarized expression of alienated labor for humanity is transformed into a commodity, to be owned and used by the Power-elite. Marx labels this “The Theory of Surplus Value”. The equation located in “Surplus value” is as the value of “things” increase there is a direct decrease in the value of humanity. The end-product is always more valuable than the sum of its parts, which by logically includes the devaluation Humanity. Christianity: Marx argued that embedded in the religious dogma of Christianity is the justification of slavery, negative self-contempt, submissiveness, life-long poverty, and the objectification of humanity, all for the benefit power-elite (Capitalist). Thus” RELIGION IS THE OPIUM OF THE PEOPLE”, man (capitalist) create religion for their purposes of exploitation; thus religion “does not make man”, man makes region.

Moral Philosophy, Political Philosophy, and Organizational Ethics: A Response to Phillips and Margolis

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin M. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Organizational Ethics ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Narrow View

Abstract:Phillips and Margolis argue that moral philosophy is a poor basis for business ethics, but their narrow view of moral philosophy would exclude Aristotle, for one. They criticize me for assimilating states and organizations in using the Rawlsian device, but they put too much faith in Rawls’s distinction between states and voluntary organizations and pay too little attention to the continuities between them. Their plea for a conceptually autonomous ethics for organizations I interpret as reasonable and largely compatible with my own stated opinion.

scholarly journals The Missing Measure of Loneliness: A Case for Including Neededness in Loneliness Scales

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 429
Author(s):  
Ariel Gordy ◽  
Helen Han Wei Luo ◽  
Margo Sidline ◽  
Kimberley Brownlee
Keyword(s):  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Theoretical Argument ◽  
Emotional Tone ◽  
Human Needs

Prominent tools used to measure loneliness such as the UCLA Scale and DJGS include no items related to being needed, i.e., neededness. More recent scales such as the DLS and SELSA do include items on neededness, but only within their romantic loneliness subscales. This paper proposes that new iterations of loneliness scales should include in all subscales two items on neededness: (a) whether a person feels important to someone else and (b) whether that person has good ways to serve others’ well-being. The paper surveys cognate studies that do not rely on loneliness scales but establish a link between neededness and feelings of social connection. It then highlights ways in which neededness items would improve the ability of loneliness scales to specify the risk profile, to delineate variations in the emotional tone and quality of loneliness, and to propose suitable interventions. The paper outlines a theoretical argument—drawing on moral philosophy—that prosociality and being needed are non-contingent, morally urgent human needs, postulating that the protective benefits of neededness vary according to at least four factors: the significance, persistence, non-instrumentality, and non-fungibility of the ways in which a person is needed. Finally, the paper considers implications for the design of appropriate remedies for loneliness.

Macintyre’s Position on Business: A Response to Wicks

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Virtue Ethics ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Moral Theory ◽  
Alasdair Macintyre ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Feminist Thought ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Classical Philosophy ◽  
Cultural Force

Andrew Wicks recently reflected “On The Practical Relevance of Feminist Thought to Business.” Part of his reflection focussed on my contributions to this subject. In critiquing my work, Wicks notes the similarity between my views on business and those of Alasdair MacIntyre. He goes on to give a brief overview of our position as he sees it. Wicks’s overview, although insightful, is misleading in certain key respects. My purpose in this response, therefore, is to clarify MacIntyre’s views on business. In doing this I will, by default, clarify my own.MacIntyre himself might be surprised by the frequency with which his name appears in the business-ethics discourse. Although, over a period spanning nearly fifty years, he has written prolifically on the subject of ethics, he has only, as far as I am aware, written two brief articles directly addressing the subject of business ethics. Why then should we in business or in business ethics concern ourselves with his views? I think our interest in MacIntyre stems from our interest in virtue ethics, specifically our interest in the applicability of the virtues to business. When it comes to virtue ethics MacIntyre is recognized as an authority, if not the authority. Even his fiercest detractors would, I hope, admit that he has been largely responsible for the resurrection of classical philosophy in the latter half of this century. His book After Virtue, in which he criticizes modernity and praises a classical virtue-based approach to ethics, is undoubtedly one the most influential books on moral philosophy written this century. Indeed, as postmodernism gains steam as a cultural force, its full influence is perhaps yet to be determined. If MacIntyre’s critique of modernity proves correct, then much of business-ethics theory—not to mention moral theory in general—would be discredited. Thus interest in MacIntyre’s thesis, from many quarters, is understandable.

Ethics Through History

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Irwin
Keyword(s):  
Moral Judgment ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Natural Law ◽  
Rational Basis ◽  
Moral Principles ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Ethical Knowledge ◽  
Human Good ◽  
Just Society

This book is a selective discussion of the tradition in moral philosophy that runs from Socrates to the present. The main themes: (1) Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, and the Stoics take different positions in debates the relation between morality (including right action and the character of virtuous agents) and the human good. Aquinas’ version of an Aristotelian view identifies the human good with the fulfilment of human nature and capacities in a just society. These facts about the human good can be discovered by rational reflexion on human nature and human needs. (2) These views both about the content of ethics and about the sources of ethical knowledge are questioned by Scotus and later writers on natural law. Voluntarists take the principles of natural law and moral right to be the products of will; naturalists take them to be discovered by reason. (3) The dispute about will and reason is the source of the long dispute between sentimentalists (Hutcheson, Hume) and rationalists (Butler, Price, Reid) about whether moral judgment has a non-rational or a rational basis. Kant tries to resolve this dispute. (4) These arguments lead to further discussion about what makes morally right actions right. Sentimentalists, followed by Mill and Sidgwick and by later utilitarians, argue that actions are right in so far as they maximize pleasure. Others, including the rationalists, Kant, Ross, and Rawls, argue that moral principles are not subordinate to utility.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document