IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v178y2022i3d10.1007_s10551-021-04801-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Posthuman Affirmative Business Ethics: Reimagining Human–Animal Relations Through Speculative Fiction

Author

Listed:
  • Janet Sayers

    (Massey University)

  • Lydia Martin

    (University of Auckland)

  • Emma Bell

    (The Open University)

Abstract

Posthuman affirmative ethics relies upon a fluid, nomadic conception of the ethical subject who develops affective, material and immaterial connections to multiple others. Our purpose in this paper is to consider what posthuman affirmative business ethics would look like, and to reflect on the shift in thinking and practice this would involve. The need for a revised understanding of human–animal relations in business ethics is amplified by crises such as climate change and pandemics that are related to ecologically destructive business practices such as factory farming. In this analysis, we use feminist speculative fiction as a resource for reimagination and posthuman ethical thinking. By focusing on three ethical movements experienced by a central character named Toby in Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy, we show how she is continually becoming through affective, embodied encounters with human and nonhuman others. In the discussion, we consider the vulnerability that arises from openness to affect which engenders heightened response-ability to and with, rather than for, multiple others. This expanded concept of subjectivity enables a more relational understanding of equality that is urgently needed in order to respond affirmatively to posthuman futures.

Suggested Citation

  • Janet Sayers & Lydia Martin & Emma Bell, 2022. "Posthuman Affirmative Business Ethics: Reimagining Human–Animal Relations Through Speculative Fiction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 597-608, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:178:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04801-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04801-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-021-04801-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-021-04801-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nelarine Cornelius & Miguel Martinez Lucio & Fiona Wilson & Suzanne Gagnon & Robert MacKenzie & Eric Pezet, 2010. "Ethnicity, Equality and Voice: The Ethics and Politics of Representation and Participation in Relation to Equality and Ethnicity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Y. Narayanan & Yamini Narayanan, 2016. "Where are the Animals in Sustainable Development? Religion and the Case for Ethical Stewardship in Animal Husbandry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(3), pages 172-180, May.
    3. Michael Maloni & Michael Brown, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility in the Supply Chain: An Application in the Food Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 68(1), pages 35-52, September.
    4. Janet Sayers & Lindsay Hamilton & Kate Sang, 2019. "Organizing animals: Species, gender and power at work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 239-245, April.
    5. Felicia Keesing & Lisa K. Belden & Peter Daszak & Andrew Dobson & C. Drew Harvell & Robert D. Holt & Peter Hudson & Anna Jolles & Kate E. Jones & Charles E. Mitchell & Samuel S. Myers & Tiffany Bogich, 2010. "Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7324), pages 647-652, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michaela Hausdorf, 2024. "What You Get Is What You See—The Mutual Relationships between Images of Human Nature and Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stephen Chen, 2009. "Corporate Responsibilities in Internet-Enabled Social Networks," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(4), pages 523-536, December.
    2. Carlson, Laura A. & Bitsch, Vera, 2018. "Social sustainability in the ready-made-garment sector in Bangladesh: an institutional approach to supply chains," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 21(2), March.
    3. Klassen, Robert D. & Vereecke, Ann, 2012. "Social issues in supply chains: Capabilities link responsibility, risk (opportunity), and performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 103-115.
    4. Paul L. G. Vlek & Asia Khamzina & Hossein Azadi & Anik Bhaduri & Luna Bharati & Ademola Braimoh & Christopher Martius & Terry Sunderland & Fatemeh Taheri, 2017. "Trade-Offs in Multi-Purpose Land Use under Land Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Werner Hediger, 2013. "From Multifunctionality and Sustainability of Agriculture to the Social Responsibility of the Agri-food System," Journal of Socio-Economics in Agriculture (Until 2015: Yearbook of Socioeconomics in Agriculture), Swiss Society for Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, vol. 6(1), pages 59-80.
    6. Sini Forssell & Leena Lankoski, 2015. "The sustainability promise of alternative food networks: an examination through “alternative” characteristics," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(1), pages 63-75, March.
    7. Henry Buller, 2010. "Commentary," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(8), pages 1875-1880, August.
    8. Lin Zhang & Jason Rohr & Ruina Cui & Yusi Xin & Lixia Han & Xiaona Yang & Shimin Gu & Yuanbao Du & Jing Liang & Xuyu Wang & Zhengjun Wu & Qin Hao & Xuan Liu, 2022. "Biological invasions facilitate zoonotic disease emergences," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Susana G. Azevedo & Minelle E. Silva & João C. O. Matias & Gustavo P. Dias, 2018. "The Influence of Collaboration Initiatives on the Sustainability of the Cashew Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-29, June.
    10. Michal Chvostáč & Eva Špitalská & Radovan Václav & Tatiana Vaculová & Lenka Minichová & Markéta Derdáková, 2018. "Seasonal Patterns in the Prevalence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in an Urban Temperate Forest in South Western Slovakia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, May.
    11. Medeiros-Sousa, Antônio Ralph & Lange, Martin & Mucci, Luis Filipe & Marrelli, Mauro Toledo & Grimm, Volker, 2024. "Modelling the transmission and spread of yellow fever in forest landscapes with different spatial configurations," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 489(C).
    12. Martin Mueller & Virginia dos Santos & Stefan Seuring, 2009. "The Contribution of Environmental and Social Standards Towards Ensuring Legitimacy in Supply Chain Governance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(4), pages 509-523, November.
    13. Jiaqi Luo & Mingxiao Bi & Haibo Kuang, 2021. "Design of Evaluation Scheme for Social Responsibility of China’s Transportation Enterprises from the Perspective of Green Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    14. Olaf Weber & Grace Saunders‐Hogberg, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility, water management, and financial performance in the food and beverage industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1937-1946, July.
    15. William E. Nganje & Linda D. Burbidge & Elisha K. Denkyirah & Elvis M. Ndembe, 2021. "Predicting Food-Safety Risk and Determining Cost-Effective Risk-Reduction Strategies," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    16. Yang, Jinxuan & Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Tan, Zhixiong & Umar, Muhammad & Koondhar, Mansoor Ahmed, 2021. "The competing role of natural gas and oil as fossil fuel and the non-linear dynamics of resource curse in Russia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    17. Marc Bascompta & Lluís Sanmiquel & Carla Vintró & Mohammad Yousefian, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility Index for Mine Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    18. Mathieu Pruvot & Manigandan Lejeune & Susan Kutz & Wendy Hutchins & Marco Musiani & Alessandro Massolo & Karin Orsel, 2016. "Better Alone or in Ill Company? The Effect of Migration and Inter-Species Comingling on Fascioloides magna Infection in Elk," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, July.
    19. Woldehanna, Sara & Zimicki, Susan, 2015. "An expanded One Health model: Integrating social science and One Health to inform study of the human-animal interface," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 87-95.
    20. Luthra, Sunil & Garg, Dixit & Haleem, Abid, 2015. "An analysis of interactions among critical success factors to implement green supply chain management towards sustainability: An Indian perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(P1), pages 37-50.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:178:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04801-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.