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Justice and the Social Ontology of the Corporation

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  • Nuno Ornelas Martins

    (Universidade Católica Portuguesa)

Abstract

In this article I address the question of whether corporations should be considered as part of the basic structure of society as defined in Rawls’s Theory of Justice. To do so, it becomes necessary to understand which institutions are crucial for defining Rawls’s basic structure of society. I will argue that a social ontology aimed at understanding how human institutions influence various aspects presupposed in Rawls’s basic structure of society can help addressing this topic. To do so, I shall draw upon the social ontology elaborated by Searle, who follows an approach that is particularly suitable for showing how Rawls’s basic structure of society already contains an institutional setting that must take corporations into account in its very formulation, due to the implications of the activities of the corporation for distributive justice.

Suggested Citation

  • Nuno Ornelas Martins, 2018. "Justice and the Social Ontology of the Corporation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 17-28, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:153:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3360-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3360-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blanc, Sandrine & Al-Amoudi, Ismael, 2013. "Corporate Institutions in a Weakened Welfare State: A Rawlsian Perspective," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 497-525, October.
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    8. Joan Fontrodona & Alejo Sison, 2006. "The Nature of the Firm, Agency Theory and Shareholder Theory: A Critique from Philosophical Anthropology," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 33-42, June.
    9. Singer, Abraham, 2015. "There Is No Rawlsian Theory of Corporate Governance," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 65-92, January.
    10. Tony Lawson, 2009. "The current economic crisis: its nature and the course of academic economics," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 33(4), pages 759-777, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nuno Ornelas Martins, 2021. "Adam Smith and Catholic Social Teaching," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 401-411, May.

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