IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/buseth/v32y2023is1p4-14.html

Whose work? Which markets? Rethinking work and markets in light of virtue ethics

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Pinto‐Garay
  • Germán Scalzo
  • Martin Schlag

Abstract

Neo‐Aristotelian virtue ethics applied to work and business theory have received increasing attention due to Alasdair MacIntyre's philosophy. At the same time, this approach has been accused of being inapplicable, a romantic nostalgia for an ideal world far from the reality of today's markets. Moreover, the more this theory evolves, the bigger the gap seems to become, as if good work were at odds with its economic dimension. This paper aims to address this gap by explaining how MacIntyre's neo‐Aristotelianism conceives of the economic dimension of good work. In particular, we claim that it is consistent with MacIntyre's philosophy that said economic dimension of work can be defined in terms of excellence and virtue, particularly in accordance with the virtues of justice and unity of life. However, for these virtues of good work to be practicable, a reconsideration of market practices performed under the logic of giving and receiving is needed. Hence, defining and sustaining an economic dimension of good work in MacIntyre also depend on the possibility of market practices being defined as excellent.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Pinto‐Garay & Germán Scalzo & Martin Schlag, 2023. "Whose work? Which markets? Rethinking work and markets in light of virtue ethics," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(S1), pages 4-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:32:y:2023:i:s1:p:4-14
    DOI: 10.1111/beer.12507
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12507
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/beer.12507?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Dobson, 2009. "Alasdair Macintyre’s Aristotelian Business Ethics: A Critique," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 43-50, April.
    2. Moore, Geoff, 2005. "Corporate Character: Modern Virtue Ethics and the Virtuous Corporation," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(4), pages 659-685, October.
    3. Wicks, Andrew C., 1997. "On Macintyre, Modernity and The Virtues: A Response to Dobson," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(4), pages 133-135, October.
    4. Matthew Sinnicks, 2021. "“We Ought to Eat in Order to Work, Not Vice Versa”: MacIntyre, Practices, and the Best Work for Humankind," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 263-274, November.
    5. Moore, Geoff, 2002. "On the Implications of the Practice–Institution Distinction: Macintyre and the Application of Modern Virtue Ethics to Business," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 19-32, January.
    6. Beadle, Ron & Knight, Kelvin, 2012. "Virtue and Meaningful Work," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 433-450, April.
    7. Ron Beadle, 2017. "Review of Ethics in the Conflicts of Modernity: An Essay on Desire, Practical Reasoning and Narrative by A. MacIntyre," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 219-222, August.
    8. Andrea Roncella & Ignacio Ferrero, 2020. "A MacIntyrean Perspective on the Collapse of a Money Market Fund," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 29-43, August.
    9. Sison, Alejo José G. & Fontrodona, Joan, 2012. "The Common Good of the Firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic Tradition," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 211-246, April.
    10. Dennis Moberg, 2008. "Mentoring and Practical Wisdom: Are Mentors Wiser or Just More Politically Skilled?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(4), pages 835-843, December.
    11. Koehn, Daryl, 1992. "Toward An Ethic of Exchange," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(3), pages 341-355, July.
    12. Bernacchio, Caleb, 2018. "Networks of Giving and Receiving in an Organizational Context: Dependent Rational Animals and MacIntyrean Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(4), pages 377-400, October.
    13. Christopher Michaelson & Michael Pratt & Adam Grant & Craig Dunn, 2014. "Meaningful Work: Connecting Business Ethics and Organization Studies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 77-90, April.
    14. Alejo José G. Sison & Ignacio Ferrero & Gregorio Guitián, 2019. "Characterizing Virtues in Finance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 995-1007, April.
    15. Koehn, Daryl & Wilbratte, Barry, 2012. "A Defense of a Thomistic Concept of the Just Price," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(3), pages 501-526, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthew Sinnicks, 2021. "“We Ought to Eat in Order to Work, Not Vice Versa”: MacIntyre, Practices, and the Best Work for Humankind," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 263-274, November.
    2. Alejo José G. Sison & Dulce M. Redín, 2023. "If MacIntyre ran a business school… how practical wisdom can be developed in management education," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 274-291, January.
    3. Marina Balboa & Germán López-Espinosa & Antonio Rubia, 2012. "Non-linear Dynamics in Discretionary Accruals: An Analysis of Bank Loan-Loss Provisions," Faculty Working Papers 07/12, School of Economics and Business Administration, University of Navarra.
    4. Caleb Bernacchio, 2021. "Virtue Beyond Contract: A MacIntyrean Approach to Employee Rights," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 227-240, June.
    5. Dirk Vriens & Jan Achterbergh & Liesbeth Gulpers, 2018. "Virtuous Structures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 671-690, July.
    6. Germán Scalzo & Kleio Akrivou & Manuel Joaquín Fernández González, 2023. "A personalist approach to business ethics: New perspectives for virtue ethics and servant leadership," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(S2), pages 145-158, September.
    7. Sunny Jeong & Matthew Sinnicks & Nicholas Burton & Mai Chi Vu, 2024. "“Be Not Conformed to this World”: MacIntyre’s Critique of Modernity and Amish Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 195(4), pages 729-761, December.
    8. Paul Oslington, 2023. "Alasdair MacIntyre and Adam Smith on markets, virtues and ends in a capitalist economy," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 1126-1138, October.
    9. Silvana Signori & Helen Alford, 2025. "Can Shareholder Activism be aVirtuous Practice?," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 479-501, December.
    10. Matthew Sinnicks, 2019. "Moral Education at Work: On the Scope of MacIntyre’s Concept of a Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 105-118, September.
    11. Karol Marek Klimczak & Alejo José G. Sison & Maria Prats & Maximilian B. Torres, 2022. "How to Deter Financial Misconduct if Crime Pays?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 205-222, August.
    12. Surendra Arjoon & Alvaro Turriago-Hoyos & Ulf Thoene, 2018. "Virtuousness and the Common Good as a Conceptual Framework for Harmonizing the Goals of the Individual, Organizations, and the Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 143-163, January.
    13. Robert Couch & Caleb Bernacchio, 2020. "The Virtues of Equality and Dissensus: MacIntyre in a Dialogue with Rancière and Mouffe," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(4), pages 633-642, July.
    14. Andrew Abela & Ryan Shea, 2015. "Avoiding the Separation Thesis While Maintaining a Positive/Normative Distinction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 31-41, September.
    15. Matthew Sinnicks, 2022. "On the Analogy Between Business and Sport: Towards an Aristotelian Response to The Market Failures Approach to Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(1), pages 49-61, April.
    16. Nicholas Burton & Matthew Sinnicks, 2022. "Quaker Business Ethics as MacIntyrean Tradition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 507-518, March.
    17. Boudewijn Bruin, 2013. "Epistemic Virtues in Business," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 583-595, April.
    18. Helen Nicholson & Ron Beadle & Richard Slack, 2020. "Corporate Philanthropy as a Context for Moral Agency, a MacIntyrean Enquiry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 589-603, December.
    19. Javier Aranzadi, 2013. "The Natural Link Between Virtue Ethics and Political Virtue: The Morality of the Market," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 487-496, December.
    20. Andrew West, 2018. "After Virtue and Accounting Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 21-36, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:32:y:2023:i:s1:p:4-14. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26946424 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.