Pinto-Garay, J., Ferrero, I.; Scalzo, G.

Philosophy of Management

2021 (accepted) 

Pricing policies and fair-trade practices are critical for sustaining commercial relationships between firms and customers. Nevertheless, in current business practices, fairness has been mistakenly reduced to a minimalistic ethic wherein justice only demands legal and explicit norms to which commercial parties voluntarily agree. Aimed at giving a different explanation of commercial agreements, this paper will introduce a Virtue Ethics (VE) explanation of the relationship between pricing and the common good by taking up classical concepts related to justice in commerce. In particular, we will explore three principles associated with the notion of fairness in commerce as defined in Neo-Aristotelian ethics towards a relationship between a common good and justice in pricing, i.e., proportionality, benevolence and well-being. To exemplify how these criteria of justice apply to decision-making in commercial practices, we will discuss several cases of fair and unfair commercial relationships.

Pinto-Garay, J., Rodriguez-Lluesma, C.; Scalzo, G.

Philosophy of Management

2021 (accepted) 

Alasdair MacIntyre´s criticism to Modernity is essentially referred to the problem of compartmentalization, restricting the possibility to achieve excellence in an integral lifestyle. Among other reasons, compartmentalization is derived especially from an insulated valorization of the workplace because of a reductionist understanding of productivity in terms of mere efficiency. Contrary to this, MacIntyre has mention the importance to understand productivity in terms of craftmanship. Hence, this paper is aimed to explain what excellence in production is— i.e., craftmanship – and what role plays in achieving a unity of life and excellence in modern corporations. 

Servicio de Publicaciones Universidad de Navarra, 2013.

Pinto, J.

Abstract

Este libro nace con el interés de proponer una reflexión de la ética empresarial sobre sí misma, en especial en relación con la dimensión propiamente filosófica que le da fundamento. La intención de este trabajo no está en la necesaria referencia que hace la ética empresarial a la propia práctica empresarial con un juicio crítico, como ocurre cuando valora las acciones empresariales particulares como lícitas o no desde la perspectiva moral (como, por ejemplo, ha ocurrido en relación con los escándalos de Tyco, Parmalat o Enron, entre otros). Este libro tampoco se quiere referir al aporte que puede hacer la misma ética empresarial a la teoría administrativa, como ocurre, por ejemplo, con la reflexión ética acerca de los grupos de interés o stakeholders1 y su relación con la formulación de la estrategia de una organización. Esta publicación busca profundizar en la reflexión filosófica propia de la ética, que es de interés especial para quienes se dedican a la teoría de la ética empresarial, a los fundamentos de la acción moral en la organización o a la teoría de las organizaciones.

EUNSA,

2021.

Pinto, J.

Abstract

Esta colección de ensayos sobre ética del trabajo y de la empresa busca una exposición de diversas ideas de la administración entendidas a la luz del pensamiento filosófico. En el contexto de una formación universitaria a veces demasiado orientada hacia los aspectos técnicos, aplicados y analíticos de la profesión, este trabajo nace de la necesidad de mostrar a los alumnos de administración cómo la ética filosófica y la filosofía política son esenciales para comprender los aspectos humanos que están presentes en el estudio y la gestión de las empresas. Así, este libro quiere apoyar la recuperación de las humanidades como elemento esencial del quehacer universitario de alumnos y profesores; ese quehacer hecho realidad en la valiosa discusión de las ideas que han dado forma al mundo contemporáneo desde hace ya más de 24 siglos

 

In Philosophy for Business Ethic

Guglielmo Faldetta, Edoardo Mollona & Massimiliano M. Pellegrini (eds).

Routledge

Abstract

This chapter aims to describe the relationship between work and technology in light of three philosophers’ perspectives, namely Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Alasdair MacIntyre. Although mostly considered intellectual antagonists, Smith and Marx’s approaches to human activity share a focus on its external dimension. From a Smithian perspective, strongly rooted in individualism, even when workers’ moral development is desirable for the firm, it is not its main responsibility, and if the firm causes any moral damage to employees based on the use of technology, the public authority, not the firm itself, must step in to amend it. Marx refuses Smith’s proposal in a critical manner, providing the principle of technological determinism, that is, the idea that technology always inflicts damage on employees no matter the way technology is organized within the firm. Because of their reductionist anthropological assumptions, both Smith and Marx failed to give a sustainable and realistic account of the meaning of work and its contribution to individual flourishing and the common good. We will analyze their understandings of the work-technology matter in light of the thought of Alasdair MacIntyre, a prominent critic of both Marx and Smith. By rehabilitating the idea of a practice, MacIntyre offers a more realistic and robust approach to understanding the way technology might affect work in terms of corruption, but also recognizes it as an opportunity for excellence in the modern corporation.

In Human Centered Organizational Culture: Global Dimensions   

Morales, O, Lepeley, M.T., Essens, P., Beutell, N., Majluf (eds).

Routledge

Abstract

This chapter aims to overcome the rationalistic and mechanistic paradigm of organizational theory redefining the nature of organizations as a community of work. We sustain that Aristotelian practical wisdom deepens our understanding of organizations by incorporating different features of personal work in organizational contexts, such as meaning, interpretation, ambiguity, conflict, context-dependence, productivity, and reflexivity. In this chapter, we will explain (i) how the organization aimed to excellence is better defined as a community of work, and (ii) how practical wisdom in an organization must be defined in light of work as a deliberative and participative production. Thus, the goal of the chapter is twofold: first, it seeks to introduce a concept of work into the Aristotelian organizational theory; second, it aims to show the potential of Aristotelian practical wisdom for deepening our understanding of organizations by integrating an Aristotelian definition of the community of work and common good into organizational theory.

    

In Human Centered Organizational Culture: Global Dimensions   

Morales, O, Lepeley, M.T., Essens, P., Beutell, N., Majluf (eds).

Routledge

Abstract

This chapter aims to overcome the rationalistic and mechanistic paradigm of organizational theory redefining the nature of organizations as a community of work. We sustain that Aristotelian practical wisdom deepens our understanding of organizations by incorporating different features of personal work in organizational contexts, such as meaning, interpretation, ambiguity, conflict, context-dependence, productivity, and reflexivity. In this chapter, we will explain (i) how the organization aimed to excellence is better defined as a community of work, and (ii) how practical wisdom in an organization must be defined in light of work as a deliberative and participative production. Thus, the goal of the chapter is twofold: first, it seeks to introduce a concept of work into the Aristotelian organizational theory; second, it aims to show the potential of Aristotelian practical wisdom for deepening our understanding of organizations by integrating an Aristotelian definition of the community of work and common good into organizational theory

    

In Routledge Companion to Corporate Social Responsibility

Routledge

Abstract

This chapter inquiries into the social responsibility of firms from a virtue ethics approach and the concept of the common good. In particular, it will show the contrasting assumptions between mainstream approaches and the common good of the firm approach to explain how the latter— rooted in Aristotelian virtue ethics— provides an original conception of social responsibility. A common good approach to social justice understands social relationships essentially defined as duties to which one voluntarily adheres; when said justice and commitment to the common good flourishes, community ensues. Finally, a Virtue Ethics approach to Corporate Social Responsibility establishes three forms of duties and social responsibility to stakeholders, including those who make up the firm, those who maintain a market-based relationship with it, and those who are related to the firm as part of society’s civic sphere.

Pinto-Garay, J.

Revista Empresa y Humanismo

Vol. XVI, N° 1, 2013, 27-52.

Abstract

La presente investigación busca participar de la discusión contemporánea que ha presentado la necesidad de fundamentar la ciencia administrativa y la teoría de las organizaciones a partir del concepto de phronesis en Aristóteles. De modo específico, el objetivo del artículo es desarrollar un argumento que, siguiendo dicha discusión, introduzca la interpretación tomista de la prudencia. En efecto, el concepto de racionalidad práctica que aporta Tomás de Aquino permitiría concebir una teoría de la prudencia empresarial que no sólo explique la estructura de la acción directiva, sino también todas las tareas que se desarrollan en la empresa.

Pinto-Garay, J. & Letelier, G.

Revista Empresa y Humanismo

Vol. XIX, nº 2, de 2016.

Abstract

El presente artículo quiere describir la relación entre división del trabajo y ética en las teorías de Adam Smith, Karl Marx y Karol Wojtyla. De este modo se intenta no sólo mostrar los elementos sustanciales del concepto de trabajo en estos tres autores, sino también cómo hay una relación conceptual entre ellos, en tanto que Wojtyla reacciona a la antropología marxista y el mismo Marx lee y hace una interpretación original de Smith