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Between Markets, Politics, and Ethics: On Vendor Conscience and Impersonal Markets

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  • Matthew Caulfield

    (Fordham University)

Abstract

Business owners sometimes refuse to transact with certain customers on principle, given some normative (political, personal, moral, or religious) commitment which they hold. I call such refusals ‘conscientious refusals.’ Evaluating two possible positions on the permissibility of vendor conscientious refusals, I argue in favor of an impersonal market in which vendor conscientious refusals are generally not justified. I argue impersonal norms, which crowd out conscientious considerations, support pluralist, healthy markets from which we reap individual and communal benefits; further, impersonal markets buttress individual freedom by providing a distinctive sphere of activity characterized by norms of radical inclusivity. These considerations constitute a strong case that vendor conscientious refusals are ceteris paribus unjustified. I conclude by addressing several potential objections to this view.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Caulfield, 2023. "Between Markets, Politics, and Ethics: On Vendor Conscience and Impersonal Markets," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(2), pages 307-326, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:188:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05323-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05323-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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