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A Moral Pluralist Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility: From Good to Controversial Practices

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  • Marian Eabrasu

Abstract

This study starts from the observation that there are relatively few controversial issues in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Given its strong normative background, CSR is rather an atypical discipline, especially in comparison with moral philosophy or applied ethics. Exploring the mainstream CSR agenda, this situation was echoed by widespread consensus on what was considered to be “good practice”: reducing pollution, shutting down sweatshops, discouraging tax evasion, and so on. However, interpretation of these issues through the lens of moral pluralism unveils latent controversies. The moral appraisal of good practices within CSR depends on key moral concepts (such as harm, responsibility, intention, and consequences), which have various—and often incompatible—interpretations. In a nutshell, this article argues that from a moral pluralist standpoint, all CSR topics are potentially controversial. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2012

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  • Marian Eabrasu, 2012. "A Moral Pluralist Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility: From Good to Controversial Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(4), pages 429-439, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:110:y:2012:i:4:p:429-439
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1491-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sourjo Mukherjee & Niek Althuizen, 2020. "Brand Activism: Does Courting Controversy Help or Hurt a Brand?," Post-Print hal-03095886, HAL.
    2. Mallika Tamvada, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility and accountability: a new theoretical foundation for regulating CSR," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Mukherjee, Sourjo & Althuizen, Niek, 2020. "Brand activism: Does courting controversy help or hurt a brand?," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 772-788.
    4. Benedict Sheehy, 2015. "Defining CSR: Problems and Solutions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(3), pages 625-648, October.
    5. Michele Fabrizi & Christine Mallin & Giovanna Michelon, 2014. "The Role of CEO’s Personal Incentives in Driving Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 311-326, October.
    6. Choi, Yon Jung & McNeely, Connie L., 2020. "Rhetorical Framing of Organizational Identity: Corporate Social Responsibility in the Modern World Polity," SocArXiv x3fvd, Center for Open Science.
    7. Mishra, Paresh & Schmidt, Gordon B., 2018. "How can leaders of multinational organizations be ethical by contributing to corporate social responsibility initiatives? Guidelines and pitfalls for leaders trying to do good," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(6), pages 833-843.
    8. Brueckner, Martin & Eabrasu, Marian, 2018. "Pinning down the social license to operate (SLO): The problem of normative complexity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 217-226.

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