Ethics as a catalyst for change in business education?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to hypothesise that business theory and education suffer from having been systematically de-philosophised over the last 200 years. Viewed through this lens the economistic narrative can be understood and new and integrated solutions to theoretical and pedagogical problems can be debated.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a theoretical exploration based on a literature review and philosophical analysis.

Findings

Going back to a social science philosophy would fundamentally affect how management is conceptualised, done and taught. The paper focuses on outlining the impact a re-philosophisation would have on management education.

Practical implications

If one agrees that philosophy plays a too small role in management, it would change how scholarship is currently defined and how management education functions. Business schools would have to fundamentally change in every respect.

Originality/value

Current criticism of the management mainstream focuses on either the political/ethical or the epistemic level. The paper argues that the epistemic and the ethical are connected and by making an integrated argument the debate can be re-energised and solution strategies become obvious. I am not aware of any other contribution making this argument. Ghoshal (unwittingly) used the same reasoning but without using the clear frame of reference (philosophy) that this paper proposes.

Citation

Huehn, M.P. (2016), "Ethics as a catalyst for change in business education?", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 170-189. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-02-2015-0027