I love the idea, but find myself struggling at the conjunction of philosophy, ethics and capitalism. Whilst return on capital exceeds return on labour (Picketty) the asymmetry that is at the heart of current issues remains. Philosophy and ethics have longer term perspectives than the current practice of shareholder capitalism. Can that circle be squared?
I believe the answer is yes Richard, although only with a deep commitment to grappling with the questions and challenges such an endeavour requires. Business is by its very nature in tension with the human person and ethics. It is, if you like, a wild bull that given its head will destroy the china shop. This is not the fault of business, although it is the fault of some regulators who place undue emphasis on financial performance above all else.
Our challenge is to foster leaders who are big enough in virtue and values to tame that savage beast. Asking questions through the lens of the person, and the impact of actions on persons, is the key. thank you for your comment
I’ve been reading David Whyte’s “Crossing the unknown sea; work as a pilgrimage of identity” and his subsequent “Three Marriages” on self, work and other which I’ve found valuable. There is an aspect that has we wondering whether we can hire philosophers and ethicists without putting boundaries round their influence in a shareholder owned business?
Yes, how does humanism break into the current pitched battle between corporate and archetypal egregores and drag us into some kind of state of genuine care for one another and our world?
People talk about stakeholder capitalism, which seems to come from Piketty's ideas. But that often looks pretty Orwellian to me.
I love the idea, but find myself struggling at the conjunction of philosophy, ethics and capitalism. Whilst return on capital exceeds return on labour (Picketty) the asymmetry that is at the heart of current issues remains. Philosophy and ethics have longer term perspectives than the current practice of shareholder capitalism. Can that circle be squared?
I believe the answer is yes Richard, although only with a deep commitment to grappling with the questions and challenges such an endeavour requires. Business is by its very nature in tension with the human person and ethics. It is, if you like, a wild bull that given its head will destroy the china shop. This is not the fault of business, although it is the fault of some regulators who place undue emphasis on financial performance above all else.
Our challenge is to foster leaders who are big enough in virtue and values to tame that savage beast. Asking questions through the lens of the person, and the impact of actions on persons, is the key. thank you for your comment
I’ve been reading David Whyte’s “Crossing the unknown sea; work as a pilgrimage of identity” and his subsequent “Three Marriages” on self, work and other which I’ve found valuable. There is an aspect that has we wondering whether we can hire philosophers and ethicists without putting boundaries round their influence in a shareholder owned business?
Yes, how does humanism break into the current pitched battle between corporate and archetypal egregores and drag us into some kind of state of genuine care for one another and our world?
People talk about stakeholder capitalism, which seems to come from Piketty's ideas. But that often looks pretty Orwellian to me.