I've just been invited to chair an "octavian session" for a memorial conference UT is having for Bob Solomon. Our session will be an informal discussion with a few former students and colleagues focused on "continental philosophy and Bob." In preparation, I'm going to be reading around a couple of books he wrote on the subject and thought I'd use this forum as a means to formulate some ideas and questions for discussion.
In case you're interested, the two books are Continental Philosophy since 1750: The Rise and Fall of the Self and The Blackwell Guide to Continental Philosophy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Warren - do you think his approach to business ethics, can be linked to his background in continental philosophy? To me, this might be an interesting idea, which no one has gone to much length to point out. In particular, I think you once told me that the "real" philosophers scoffed at his work in business ethics as being philosophy-lite.
Could not one make a credible argument that the focus on virtue-models follow more a continental approach to the self, as opposed to the traditional rights-based model of the autonomous self found in the enlightenment?
I'd look into that a litte.
That's a great suggestion. Do you recall anything you've read that might be appropriate to look at?
Warren,
Solomon has a seminal article on virtue ethics. It follows the form of presenting the typical explanation/criticism of deontology and utilitarianism (the two modern ethical approaches), then presenting the virtue perspective as the best and most realistic manner to approach virtue ethics.
If I am not mistaken... Bob's critical point is that the virtues which constitue excellence moral living are actually also true of excellent business practice, contrary to the belief that business stands outside the normal realms of moral reasoning. I think there is a strong post-modern perspective driving Solomon. Deontology and Utilitarianism have lead to business practice as standing outside normal realms of morality. Utility permits amoral behavior in business as long as the practice itself produces more good than harm. Deontology debases business practice to contractual agreeements, where as long as stakeholder rights are not violated, and contracting parties make autonomous choices, then typical business transactions are permissible.
Solomons point is to argue than business practice is not spearate from, but part of the fabric of a person's normal moral life. To be continental... part of one's personal narrative has to involve his working life, given the amount of time and energy we devote to work. Thus, an individual should be reinforcing character in his work life, not undermining it.
I'll make a concerted effort to find his key article.
Post a Comment