TY - JOUR
T1 - Beneath the surface
T2 - A discussion of prominent ideologies and philosophical influences on Anglo-American business ethics
AU - Jun, Hannah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 by THE INSTITUTE OF KOREAN STUDIES.
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - This paper examines the economic rationalization and moral justification of capitalist systems in England and America between the 17th and 19thcenturies within the framework of modes of exchange. On the surface, there existed a shared sociopolitical outcome which legitimized personal wealth, individualism, and political liberty. But contrary to conventional understanding, early English and American socioeconomic underpinnings of the market economy created different, if not divergent, motivational bases among the state, aristocracy, and the masses. Specifically, the English landed gentry formed a leisure class that shaped a culture of "gentlemanly" capitalism and enjoyed conspicuous consumption, while early American capitalists championed labor and hard work in tandem with a marked Puritan ethic. Thus, even for seemingly similar modes of exchange, very different patterns of ethical justifications of business practices existed. This supports the broader hypothesis that the evolution of modes of exchange requires geographically-and historically-specific moral or ethical justifications.
AB - This paper examines the economic rationalization and moral justification of capitalist systems in England and America between the 17th and 19thcenturies within the framework of modes of exchange. On the surface, there existed a shared sociopolitical outcome which legitimized personal wealth, individualism, and political liberty. But contrary to conventional understanding, early English and American socioeconomic underpinnings of the market economy created different, if not divergent, motivational bases among the state, aristocracy, and the masses. Specifically, the English landed gentry formed a leisure class that shaped a culture of "gentlemanly" capitalism and enjoyed conspicuous consumption, while early American capitalists championed labor and hard work in tandem with a marked Puritan ethic. Thus, even for seemingly similar modes of exchange, very different patterns of ethical justifications of business practices existed. This supports the broader hypothesis that the evolution of modes of exchange requires geographically-and historically-specific moral or ethical justifications.
KW - Anglo-America
KW - Business Ethics
KW - Gentlemanly Capitalism
KW - Modes of Exchange
KW - Puritan Ethic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908702932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84908702932
SN - 0023-3919
VL - 45
SP - 363
EP - 387
JO - Korea Observer
JF - Korea Observer
IS - 3
ER -