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The Ethics of Swearing: The Implications of Moral Theories for Oath-Breaking in Economic Contexts

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  • Thaddeus Metz

Abstract

Many readers will share the judgement that, having made an oath, there is something morally worse about consequently performing the immoral action, such as embezzling, that one swore not to do. Why would it be worse? To answer this question, I consider three moral-theoretic accounts of why it is ‘extra’ wrong to violate oaths not to perform wrong actions, with special attention paid to those made in economic contexts. Specifically, I address what the moral theories of utilitarianism, Kantianism and a new communitarian-relational principle entail for the wrongness of oath-breaking. I argue that the former two do not adequately capture why it is extra wrong to perform an immoral action that one swore not to do, but that the latter appeal to a morality of communal relationship offers a promising account.

Suggested Citation

  • Thaddeus Metz, 2013. "The Ethics of Swearing: The Implications of Moral Theories for Oath-Breaking in Economic Contexts," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 71(2), pages 228-248, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocec:v:71:y:2013:i:2:p:228-248
    DOI: 10.1080/00346764.2013.799968
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    Cited by:

    1. Boudewijn Bruin, 2016. "Pledging Integrity: Oaths as Forms of Business Ethics Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 23-42, June.
    2. Brent J. Davis & Tarek Jaber‐Lopez, 2023. "Do voluntary commitment mechanisms improve welfare? The effect of mandatory and voluntary oaths in a social dilemma," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(2), pages 525-540, April.

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