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The Conditions of Our Freedom: Foucault, Organization, and Ethics

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  • Crane, Andrew
  • Knights, David
  • Starkey, Ken

Abstract

The paper examines the contribution of the French philosopher Michel Foucault to the subject of ethics in organizations. The paper combines an analysis of Foucault’s work on discipline and control, with an examination of his later work on the ethical subject and technologies of the self. Our paper argues that the work of the later Foucault provides an important contribution to business ethics theory, practice and pedagogy. We discuss how it offers an alternative avenue to traditional normative ethical theory that both converges and diverges with other extant alternatives. By situating ethics as practices of the self, and by demonstrating the conditions under which freedom in organizations can be exercised, Foucault’s ethics attempt to connect an understanding and critique of power with a personal project of self. He therefore provides a theory of subjectivity that potentially informs a reshaping of contemporary virtue ethics theory, value-based management, and business ethics teaching.

Suggested Citation

  • Crane, Andrew & Knights, David & Starkey, Ken, 2008. "The Conditions of Our Freedom: Foucault, Organization, and Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 299-320, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:18:y:2008:i:03:p:299-320_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Aurélie Leclercq-Vandelannoitte, 2019. "Is Employee Technological “Ill-Being” Missing from Corporate Responsibility? The Foucauldian Ethics of Ubiquitous IT Uses in Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 339-361, December.
    2. Suze Wilson & Hugh Lee & Jackie Ford & Nancy Harding, 2021. "On the Ethics of Psychometric Instruments Used in Leadership Development Programmes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(2), pages 211-227, August.
    3. Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar & Fahreen Alamgir, 2018. "Ethics of Resistance in Organisations: A Conceptual Proposal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(1), pages 31-43, April.
    4. Robert Caruana & Sarah Glozer & Giana M. Eckhardt, 2020. "‘Alternative Hedonism’: Exploring the Role of Pleasure in Moral Markets," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(1), pages 143-158, September.
    5. Jean-Philippe Bouilloud & Ghislain Deslandes & Guillaume Mercier, 2019. "The Leader as Chief Truth Officer: The Ethical Responsibility of “Managing the Truth” in Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(1), pages 1-13, June.
    6. Välikangas, Anita & Seeck, Hannele, 2011. "Exploring the Foucauldian interpretation of power and subject in organizations," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 49807, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Kristina Johansson & Elias Andersson & Maria Johansson, 2022. "Restructuring masculinities and reshaping inequalities: Negotiations of (gendered) sales work and relations in an industrial organization," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 1008-1024, July.

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