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The Social Contract Model of Corporate Purpose and Responsibility

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  • Hsieh, Nien-hê

Abstract

Of the many developments in business ethics that Thomas Donaldson has helped pioneer, one is the application of social contract theory to address questions about the responsibilities of business actors. In Corporations and Morality, Donaldson develops one of the most sustained and comprehensive accounts that aims to justify the existence of for-profit corporations and to specify and ground their responsibilities. In order to further our understanding about the purpose and responsibilities of productive organizations, and as a contribution to the scholarship on Donaldson’s thought, this paper gathers together the critical responses to Donaldson’s account along with Donaldson’s replies to his critics. The paper argues that we would do well to continue engaging with Donaldson’s account because of its distinctive and challenging conception of the purpose and responsibilities of productive organizations, but that many of the insights to be gained come from reframing the role played by social contract theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Hsieh, Nien-hê, 2015. "The Social Contract Model of Corporate Purpose and Responsibility," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(4), pages 433-460, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:25:y:2015:i:04:p:433-460_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Baruk Agnieszka Izabela & Goliszek Anna, 2019. "The Reasons of Lack of Polish Young Potential Employees’ Interest in Universities as Employers in the Context of Perception of People Working in These Organizations," Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations, Sciendo, vol. 32(2), pages 207-229, June.
    2. Baruk Agnieszka Izabela & Goliszek Anna, 2018. "Typology of Young Potential Employees According to Reasons for their Aversion Towards the University as an Employer," Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations, Sciendo, vol. 29(3), pages 111-132, September.
    3. Dayana Jimenez & Isabel B. Franco & Tahlia Smith, 2021. "A Review of Corporate Purpose: An Approach to Actioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Carola Hillenbrand & Kevin Guy Money & Chris Brooks & Nicole Tovstiga, 2019. "Corporate Tax: What Do Stakeholders Expect?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(2), pages 403-426, August.

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