A pragmatist case for thoughtfulness and experimentation in corporate governance

Authors: Nordberg, D.

Pages: 310-327

DOI: 10.4337/9781800880603.00030

Abstract:

Despite interminable debate, ethical perspectives have sought to stem the abuse of corporate power by focusing on the split between utility-focused attention to shareholder value, including the 'enlightened' kind, and duty-focused imperatives in stakeholder theory. Through thought experiments, this chapter builds a case for a different approach. Ethics scholars including Brandt (1959) and Frankena (1963) highlight contrasting approaches to both utility and duty, separating formation of general rules from examination of individual acts. Act-based ethics points us toward the pragmatism of James (1907/1955) and Dewey (1930) and 'what works.' In the context of boards, that means connecting duty and consequences and encouraging a fullness of thought: board-level thoughtfulness. This approach has echoes of Werhane's (2002, 2008) concept of moral imagination and Rorty's (2006) more radical call to reject recipes and seek new solutions.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36704/

Source: Scopus

A pragmatist case for thoughtfulness and experimentation in corporate governance

Authors: Nordberg, D.

Editors: Talaulicar, T.

Publisher: Edward Elgar

Place of Publication: Cheltenham, Glos.

ISBN: 9781800880597

DOI: 10.4337/9781800880603.00030

Abstract:

Despite interminable debate, ethical perspectives have sought to stem the abuse of corporate power by focusing on the split between utility-focused attention to shareholder value, including the ‘enlightened’ kind, and duty-focused imperatives in stakeholder theory. Through thought experiments, this chapter builds a case for a different approach. Ethics scholars including Brandt (1959) and Frankena (1963) highlight contrasting approaches to both utility and duty, separating formation of general rules from examination of individual acts. Act-based ethics points us toward the pragmatism of James (1907/1955) and Dewey (1930) and ‘what works.’ In the context of boards that means connecting duty and consequences and encouraging a fullness of thought: board-level thoughtfulness. This approach has echoes of Werhane’s (2002, 2008) concept of moral imagination and Rorty’s (2006) more radical call to reject recipes and seek new solutions.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36704/

https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollbook/book/9781800880603/9781800880603.xml

Source: Manual

A pragmatist case for thoughtfulness and experimentation in corporate governance

Authors: Nordberg, D.

Editors: Talaulicar, T.

Pages: 310-327

Publisher: Edward Elgar

Place of Publication: Cheltenham

ISBN: 9781800880597

Abstract:

Despite interminable debate, ethical perspectives have sought to stem the abuse of corporate power by focusing on the split between utility-focused attention to shareholder value, including the ‘enlightened’ kind, and duty-focused imperatives in stakeholder theory. Through thought experiments, this chapter builds a case for a different approach. Ethics scholars including Brandt (1959) and Frankena (1963) highlight contrasting approaches to both utility and duty, separating formation of general rules from examination of individual acts. Act-based ethics points us toward the pragmatism of James (1907/1955) and Dewey (1930) and ‘what works.’ In the context of boards that means connecting duty and consequences and encouraging a fullness of thought: board-level thoughtfulness. This approach has echoes of Werhane’s (2002, 2008) concept of moral imagination and Rorty’s (2006) more radical call to reject recipes and seek new solutions.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36704/

Source: BURO EPrints