"Utopia reconsidered"

by Dobson, John; Libri Publishing (2008)

Abstract

This paper challenges Alasdair MacIntyre's assertion that the modern firm - such as Google, Unilever, or Microsoft - is inimical to human flourishing within an Aristotelian framework. The paper begins by questioning MacIntyre's rendering ofutopian communities. It then addresses four specific criticisms ofthe modern firm to be found throughout MacIntyre's oeuvre, namely compartmentalisation, myopia, inequality, and loss ofcommunity. Arguments are made to the effect that these criticisms do not vitiate the institutional role ofthe modern firm in an Aristotelian context. The paper concludes with an invocation ofthe modern firm as institutional ideal within an evolving utopian vision ofhuman flourishing. This is a utopian vision in which the modern firm plays a constructive, not corruptive, institutional role.

Keywords

Alasdair Macintyre, Management, Aristotle, Firm, Modern Firm, Business Firm, Human Flourishing, Utopian

Themes

Utopia, On MacIntyre

Links to Reference

• http://www.pdcnet.org/oom/service?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=&rft.imuse_id=pom_2008_0007_0001_0067_0075&svc_id=info:www.pdcnet.org/collection
• http://dx.doi.org/10.5840/pom2008717
• https://idp.springer.com/authorize/casa?redirect_uri=https://link.springer.com/article/10.5840/pom2008717&casa_token=jjtm-B3KwCIAAAAA:EoOWYMjv23dlLuU5sGMKLXO8yB97-XUJ9PEdMgigdSzdKordPTCHoKTmymKzxx0IAZTr6qZ3SUwyB2bt3Dg

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