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Kantian Group Agency

Author

Listed:
  • Amy L. MacArthur

    (High Point University)

Abstract

Although much work has been done on Kant’s theory of moral agency, little explored is the possibility of a Kantian account of the moral agency of groups or collectives that comprise individual human beings. The aim of this paper is to offer a Kantian account of collective moral agency that can explain how organized collectives can perform moral (or immoral) actions and be held morally responsible for their actions. Drawing on Kant’s view that agents act by incorporating an incentive into their maxims, it is argued that groups of agents can engage in practical deliberation in much the same way individual agents can, resulting in the formulation of a distinctive “group maxim” for which the group, as such, can be morally responsible.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy L. MacArthur, 2019. "Kantian Group Agency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(4), pages 917-927, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:154:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-018-3891-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-018-3891-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Scharding, Tobey K., 2015. "Imprudence and Immorality: A Kantian Approach to the Ethics of Financial Risk," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(2), pages 243-265, April.
    2. Matthew Altman, 2007. "The Decomposition of the Corporate Body: What Kant Cannot Contribute to Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 253-266, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Vijver, 2022. "Morality of Lobbying for Tax Benefits: A Kantian Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(1), pages 57-68, November.
    2. Gastón Reyes, 2023. "The All-Stakeholders-Considered Case for Corporate Beneficence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 37-55, November.

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