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The Impossibility of the Separation Thesis: A Response to Joakim Sandberg

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  • Harris, Jared D.
  • Freeman, R. Edward

Abstract

Distinguishing “business” concerns from “ethical” values is not only an unfruitful and meaningless task, it is also an impossible endeavor. Nevertheless, fruitless attempts to separate facts from values produce detrimental second-order effects, both for theory and practice, and should therefore be abandoned. We highlight examples of exemplary research that integrate economic and moral considerations, and point the way to a business ethics discipline that breaks new ground by putting ideas and narratives about business together with ideas and narratives about ethics.

Suggested Citation

  • Harris, Jared D. & Freeman, R. Edward, 2008. "The Impossibility of the Separation Thesis: A Response to Joakim Sandberg," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 541-548, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:18:y:2008:i:04:p:541-548_01
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean Clarke & Robin Holt, 2010. "Reflective Judgement: Understanding Entrepreneurship as Ethical Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 317-331, July.
    2. McKenzie R. Rees & Ann E. Tenbrunsel & Kristina A. Diekmann, 2022. "“It’s Just Business”: Understanding How Business Frames Differ from Ethical Frames and the Effect on Unethical Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 429-449, March.
    3. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    4. Miguel Alzola, 2011. "The Reconciliation Project: Separation and Integration in Business Ethics Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(1), pages 19-36, March.
    5. Sergiy D. Dmytriyev & R. Edward Freeman & Jacob Hörisch, 2021. "The Relationship between Stakeholder Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility: Differences, Similarities, and Implications for Social Issues in Management," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(6), pages 1441-1470, September.
    6. Papaporn Chaihanchanchai & Saravudh Anantachart, 2023. "Encouraging green product purchase: Green value and environmental knowledge as moderators of attitude and behavior relationship," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 289-303, January.
    7. Maribel Blasco, 2022. "“We’re Just Geeks”: Disciplinary Identifications Among Business Students and Their Implications for Personal Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 279-302, June.
    8. Ishrat Ali & Griffin W. Cottle, 2021. "Reconceptualizing Entrepreneurial Performance: The Creation and Destruction of Value from a Stakeholder Capabilities Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(4), pages 781-796, May.
    9. Francesco Gangi & Jérôme Méric & Rémi Jardat & Lucia Michela Daniele, 2019. "Business for society," Post-Print hal-02382307, HAL.
    10. Joan Fontrodona & Joan Enric Ricart & Pascual Berrone, 2018. "Ethical Challenges in Strategic Management: The 19th IESE International Symposium on Ethics, Business and Society," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(4), pages 887-898, November.
    11. Ivan Montiel & Peter Jack Gallo & Raquel Antolin-Lopez, 2020. "What on Earth Should Managers Learn About Corporate Sustainability? A Threshold Concept Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 857-880, April.
    12. Joaquin Sanchez-Planelles & Marival Segarra-Oña & Angel Peiro-Signes, 2020. "Building a Theoretical Framework for Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Fabien Martinez, 2019. "On the Role of Faith in Sustainability Management: A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 787-807, March.
    14. Krista Fiolleau & Steven E. Kaplan, 2017. "Recognizing Ethical Issues: An Examination of Practicing Industry Accountants and Accounting Students," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 259-276, May.
    15. Morgane Pennec & Emmanuel Raufflet, 2018. "Value Creation in Inter-Organizational Collaboration: An Empirical Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 817-834, April.
    16. Peter Norberg, 2018. "Bankers Bashing Back: Amoral CSR Justifications," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 401-418, January.
    17. R. Edward Freeman & Jared Harris, 2009. "Creating Ties That Bind," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 88(4), pages 685-692, October.
    18. R. Edward Freeman, 2018. "The “Business Sucks” Story," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 9-16, July.
    19. Sihem Dekhili & Mohamed Akli Achabou, 2013. "Price Fairness in the Case of Green Products: Enterprises' Policies and Consumers' Perceptions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(8), pages 547-560, December.
    20. AnnMarie Bennett & Breda Murphy, 2017. "The Tax Profession: Tax Avoidance and the Public Interest," Economics Department Working Paper Series n286-17.pdf, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland - Maynooth.
    21. Francesco Gangi & Antonio Meles & Eugenio D'Angelo & Lucia Michela Daniele, 2019. "Sustainable development and corporate governance in the financial system: Are environmentally friendly banks less risky?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 529-547, May.
    22. Stelios Zyglidopoulos, 2021. "On Becoming and Being an Ethical Leader: A Platonic Interpretation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-11, September.
    23. 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.
    24. Graciela Corral de Zubielqui & Howard Harris, 2024. "Why the COVID-19 Crisis Is an Ethical Issue for Business: Evidence from the Australian JobKeeper Initiative," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(1), pages 123-136, February.
    25. Fabien Martinez, 2019. "On the Role of Faith in Sustainability Management: A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda," Post-Print hal-02887640, HAL.

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