Abstract
Every academic endeavour rests ultimately on a particular assumption of human nature. Two views of human nature are compared and contrasted: (1) a utilitarian naturalistic humanism which holds essentially the view that human nature is materialistic, and (2) an Aristotelian-Thomistic natural law/virtue ethics humanism which holds the view that human nature is both materialistic and spiritualistic. This paper argues that the latter view better captures and explains the metaphysical realities of human nature. In addition, the role of virtues and its applications in management practice are presented. Organisational policy mechanisms and managerial implications will depend on which view of human nature one adopts. The failure to integrate the virtues and natural law ethical principles into management practice threatens the stability and survival of the firm since they are required to correct the dysfunctional aspects and ethical deficits of the current business philosophy.
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Here, one can make a distinction between theistic ethics and atheistic ethics using virtue theory. A utilitarian naturalistic humanism would subscribe to the cardinal virtues (atheistic ethics); natural law humanism as discussed in this paper would, in addition, subscribe to the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity (theistic ethics). Although the cardinal virtues are necessary for living a morally good life, they alone cannot fully attain the natural good at which they aim due to the universal defect in human nature which renders one incapable of attaining the natural good without supernatural help (J Porter The Recovery of Virtue: The Relevance of Aquinas for Christian Ethics Louisville Kentucky, Westminster/John Knox Press 1990 pp 168)
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Arjoon, S. An Aristotelian-Thomistic Approach to Management Practice. Philos. of Manag. 9, 47–64 (2010). https://doi.org/10.5840/pom20109211
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/pom20109211