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Virtue and Vice Attributions in the Business Context: An Experimental Investigation

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  • Brian Robinson
  • Paul Stey
  • Mark Alfano

Abstract

Recent findings in experimental philosophy have revealed that people attribute intentionality, belief, desire, knowledge, and blame asymmetrically to side-effects depending on whether the agent who produces the side-effect violates or adheres to a norm. Although the original (and still common) test for this effect involved a chairman helping or harming the environment, hardly any of these findings have been applied to business ethics. We review what little exploration of the implications for business ethics has been done. Then, we present new experimental results that expand the attribution asymmetry to virtue and vice. We also examine whether it matters to people that an effect was produced as a primary or side-effect, as well as how consumer habits might be affected by this phenomenon. These results lead to the conclusion that it appears to be in a businessperson’s self-interest to be virtuous. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Robinson & Paul Stey & Mark Alfano, 2013. "Virtue and Vice Attributions in the Business Context: An Experimental Investigation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 649-661, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:113:y:2013:i:4:p:649-661
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1676-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andy Wible, 2009. "Knobe, Side Effects, and the Morally Good Business," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(1), pages 173-178, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joan Fontrodona & Alejo Sison & Boudewijn Bruin, 2013. "Editorial Introduction: Putting Virtues Into Practice. A Challenge for Business and Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(4), pages 563-565, April.
    2. Kevin Morrell & Stephen Brammer, 2016. "Governance and Virtue: The Case of Public Order Policing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 385-398, June.
    3. David Dawson, 2015. "Two Forms of Virtue Ethics: Two Sets of Virtuous Action in the Fire Service Dispute?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 585-601, May.

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