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The Possibility of Virtue

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  • Alzola, Miguel

Abstract

To have a virtue is to possess a certain kind of trait of character that is appropriate in pursuing the moral good at which the virtue aims. Human beings are assumed to be capable of attaining those traits. Yet, a number of scholars are skeptical about the very existence of such character traits. They claim a sizable amount of empirical evidence in their support. This article is concerned with the existence and explanatory power of character as a way to assess the possibility of achieving moral virtue, with particular attention paid to business context. I aim to unsettle the so-called situationist challenge to virtue ethics. In the course of this article, I shall defend four claims, namely, that virtues are more than just behavioral dispositions, that at least some virtues may not be unitary traits, that psychologists cannot infer virtues from overt behavior, and that the situationist data do not account for the observational equivalence of traits. Since it rests on a misconception of what virtue is, the situationist objection remains unconvincing.

Suggested Citation

  • Alzola, Miguel, 2012. "The Possibility of Virtue," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 377-404, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:22:y:2012:i:02:p:377-404_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Keir & Bai Zongrang, 2018. "Rationality Meets Ren: beyond Virtue Catalogues for a World Business Ethos," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 187-201, December.
    2. Brenda Nguyen & Mary Crossan, 2022. "Character-Infused Ethical Decision Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 171-191, June.
    3. Massimiliano Monaci, 2020. "Embedding Humanizing Cultures in Organizations through ‘Institutional’ Leadership: the Role of HRM," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 59-83, July.
    4. Kevin T. Jackson, 2018. "Interpreting the Virtues of Mindfulness and Compassion: Contemplative Practices and Virtue-Oriented Business Ethics," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 47-69, July.
    5. Argandoña, Antonio, 2017. "Social Responsability and Ethics in Organizational Management," IESE Research Papers D/1163, IESE Business School.
    6. Tae Wan Kim & Alan Scheller-Wolf, 2019. "Technological Unemployment, Meaning in Life, Purpose of Business, and the Future of Stakeholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 319-337, December.
    7. Mary Crossan & Daina Mazutis & Gerard Seijts, 2013. "In Search of Virtue: The Role of Virtues, Values and Character Strengths in Ethical Decision Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 567-581, April.
    8. Marcel Meyer, 2018. "The Evolution and Challenges of the Concept of Organizational Virtuousness in Positive Organizational Scholarship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 245-264, November.
    9. Rafael Morales-Sánchez & Carmen Cabello-Medina, 2013. "The Role of Four Universal Moral Competencies in Ethical Decision-Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 116(4), pages 717-734, September.
    10. Miguel Alzola & Alicia Hennig & Edward Romar, 2020. "Thematic Symposium Editorial: Virtue Ethics Between East and West," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(2), pages 177-189, August.
    11. Katrina Graham & Jonathan Ziegert & Johnna Capitano, 2015. "The Effect of Leadership Style, Framing, and Promotion Regulatory Focus on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 423-436, February.
    12. 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.
    13. Argandoña, Antonio, 2017. "Humility and Decision Making in Companies," IESE Research Papers D/1164, IESE Business School.
    14. Guli-Sanam Karimova & Nils Christian Hoffmann & Ludger Heidbrink & Stefan Hoffmann, 2020. "Virtue Ethics Between East and West in Consumer Research: Review, Synthesis and Directions for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(2), pages 255-275, August.

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