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Corporate Transparency: A Perspective from Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae

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  • João Neves
  • Antonino Vaccaro

Abstract

This article analyzes the issue of organizational transparency through the lens of Thomas Aquinas’ ethics. It provides moral justification for current claims about corporate transparency and sheds light on the ethical values and virtues affecting information disclosure decisions. Transparency is conceptualized as an informational mechanism necessary for performing the virtues of truthfulness, justice, and prudence. This article extends the organizational transparency and corporate social responsibility literatures by providing an alternative moral justification grounded in virtue-based theory, which extends our understanding of the information disclosure decisions made by management. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • João Neves & Antonino Vaccaro, 2013. "Corporate Transparency: A Perspective from Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 639-648, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:113:y:2013:i:4:p:639-648
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1682-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Antonino Vaccaro & Dalia Patiño Echeverri, 2010. "Corporate Transparency and Green Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 487-506, September.
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    10. Antonino Vaccaro, 2012. "To Pay or Not to Pay? Dynamic Transparency and the Fight Against the Mafia’s Extortionists," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 106(1), pages 23-35, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joan Fontrodona & Alejo Sison & Boudewijn Bruin, 2013. "Editorial Introduction: Putting Virtues Into Practice. A Challenge for Business and Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 563-565, April.
    2. Domènec Melé, 2016. "Re-thinking Capitalism: What We can Learn from Scholasticism?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 293-304, January.
    3. S. Douglas Beets & Mary G. Beets, 2019. "An Absence of Transparency: The Charitable and Political Contributions of US Corporations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 1101-1113, April.
    4. Luis Ignacio Álvarez-González & Nuria García-Rodríguez & María José Sanzo-Pérez, 2018. "Online Voluntary Transparency in Spanish Retail Firms. Measurement Index and CSR-Related Factors as Determinants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Beat Reber & Agnes Gold & Stefan Gold, 2022. "ESG Disclosure and Idiosyncratic Risk in Initial Public Offerings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 867-886, September.
    6. Shuili Du & Kun Yu, 2021. "Do Corporate Social Responsibility Reports Convey Value Relevant Information? Evidence from Report Readability and Tone," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(2), pages 253-274, August.
    7. Higgins, Colin & Tang, Samuel & Stubbs, Wendy, 2020. "On managing hypocrisy: The transparency of sustainability reports," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 395-407.
    8. Felix Septianto & Joya A. Kemper & Fandy Tjiptono & Widya Paramita, 2021. "The Role of Authentic (vs. Hubristic) Pride in Leveraging the Effectiveness of Cost Transparency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 423-439, November.
    9. Balzarova, Michaela & Dyer, Celia & Falta, Michael, 2022. "Perceptions of blockchain readiness for fairtrade programmes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    10. Schniederjans, Dara G. & Khalajhedayati, Mehrnaz, 2023. "Corporate Responsibility Communication and Score Trends: A Buyer and Supplier Perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).

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    Keywords

    Corporate transparency; Virtue ethics;

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