The Shadow of Sophocles:Tragedy and the Ethics of Leadership

Amiridis, Konstantinos (2018) The Shadow of Sophocles:Tragedy and the Ethics of Leadership. Business Ethics Quarterly, 28 (1). pp. 15-29. ISSN 1052-150X

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Abstract

This article explores how the idea of tragedy can highlight some of the complex and paradoxical aspects of the relationship between ethics and leadership. First, it offers a comparative analysis of the way in which questions of leadership are addressed as a practical and theoretical concern when leaders are confronted with situations of moral crisis. The context is provided by a critical reading of the MBA oath, a student-led pledge that tries to establish a higher moral standard for leaders, and by Norman Bowie’s attempt to develop a Kantian theory of leadership. Second, it introduces a novel philosophical approach based upon Hegel’s interpretation of tragedy and ethical life developed in his theory of aesthetics. Through the idea of tragedy, the concept of ethical leadership could also encompass those ambiguous situations when good conflicts with good and when a possible reconciliation of a moral conflict might require the sacrifice of otherwise legitimate ends.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Business Ethics Quarterly
Additional Information:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-ethics-quarterly/article/shadow-of-sophocles-tragedy-and-the-ethics-of-leadership/05E992C9EC6113916A47BACF4B020919The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Business Ethics Quarterly, 28 (1), pp 15-29 2018, © 2018 Cambridge University Press.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200/1211
Subjects:
?? MANAGEMENTMORALITYMBA OATHBOWIENORMATIVEHEGELBUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING(ALL)ECONOMICS AND ECONOMETRICSPHILOSOPHY ??
ID Code:
88968
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Dec 2017 11:22
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 02:19