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On Becoming and Being an Ethical Leader: A Platonic Interpretation

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  • Stelios Zyglidopoulos

    (Kedge Business School)

Abstract

The question of whether ethical individuals have a disadvantage in becoming leaders is an important one that has not been adequately discussed in the business ethics/leadership literature. In this paper, drawing on Plato’s middle dialogues and particularly on the Republic, I develop a Platonic framework of the constraints that might hinder the emergence of what the dialogues term ‘philosopher kings’. Subsequently, I use this framework to elucidate the emergence of ethical leaders in todays’ organizations and conclude with a discussion of this paper’s implications for the ethical leadership literature.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:173:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-020-04544-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-020-04544-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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