This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of referen... more This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret supererogatory actions and suggests that identity of companies can be a driving force behind these actions. Companies may perform actions against the narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call for supererogatory actions by companies more than ever before.
This paper argues that identity economics and social
psychology provide a useful frame of referen... more This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret supererogatory actions and suggests that identity of companies can be a driving force behind these actions. Companies may perform actions against the narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call for supererogatory actions by companies more than ever before.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main reasons for social innovations to ... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main reasons for social innovations to be successful in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, four famous cases of social innovation are studied and contrasted in the following dimensions: goals, means and skills/resources needed by the user. Findings – Exemplary social innovations do not have profit as their primary objective but emphasize social, spiritual and humanitarian goals such as minimizing suffering, empowering people and strengthening local communities. Originality/value – The paper shows that sensitivity to local culture and an ethos for serving the common good are preconditions of successful and lasting social innovations by business.
Business Ethics, the Environment, and Responsibility, 2022
Wellbeing is an organizing principle that ensures simultaneous flourishing of people and nature. ... more Wellbeing is an organizing principle that ensures simultaneous flourishing of people and nature. It binds together an ethic of nature and ethics of people/community into a practical framework for creating integrated socio-ecological wellbeing. This paper discusses the theoretical and practical implications of this position and presents illus-trative cases of innovative wellbeing-oriented organizations, both business and social. The paper explains why we need wellbeing organizations anchored in the wellbeing economy movement. A concept of resilient wellbeing organization is presented and illustrated with working models of existing organizations attempting to live up to the wellbeing values and practices. The paper ends with some thought on regulatory ena-bling of wellbeing organizations and makes practical implications for policy makers and managers, and suggestions for further research
Mainstream economics employs a rather simplified picture of economic systems. Economic actors are... more Mainstream economics employs a rather simplified picture of economic systems. Economic actors are grouped into three categories, namely individuals/households, firms, and the state. Among these actors only monetized transactions are considered. The ultimate goal of the economy is defined as maximization of individual income or financial wealth. In the reality of the twenty-first century the working of the economy is far more complex. Economic actors represent diverse types and the monetized transactions are only one from of the interactions among them. The paper suggests that we should consider economic actors such as individuals, organizations, communities, networks, and robots (or algorithms). Among these actors four basic types of interactions can be identified: market exchange, bureaucratic coordination, ethical transaction, and aggressive action. Different types of interactions may be combined but “crowding in” and “crowding out” effects may happen among them. For example, mark...
Despite of Martin Heidegger’s warning not modern technology but modern economizing destroys the B... more Despite of Martin Heidegger’s warning not modern technology but modern economizing destroys the Being. With its exclusive focus on profit-making modern economizing endangers the integrity and diversity of natural ecosystems, autonomy and culture of local communities, and chances of future generations for a decent life. This paper gives a critique of the profit principle and redefines economic rationality in a more holistic, substantive and humanistic form.
The International Manager as a Reflexive Practitioner S.Junghagen Achieving Environmental Sustain... more The International Manager as a Reflexive Practitioner S.Junghagen Achieving Environmental Sustainability A.Tencati & S.Pogutz Developing Social Responsibility S.Vallentin & M.Morsing Managing Gender and Diversity in Organizations M.A.Danowitz, E.Hanappi-Egger & R.Hofmann Reinventing Organizations with Information Communication Technologies P.Bielli Holistic Problem Solving K.Ims & L.Zsolnai Cooperating with Social and Political Actors E.O'Higgins, K.Schedler & Z.Boda Engaging in Progressive Entrepreneurship A.Tencati, F.Perrini, N.Hofstra & L.Zsolnai
Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, 1985
Naturally, there is only one real world but people are not directly living in this single real wo... more Naturally, there is only one real world but people are not directly living in this single real world. J. Ortega y Gasset wrote that “man must ever be grounded on some beliefs, and that the structure of his life will depend primordially on the beliefs on which he is grounded”. Beliefs, “always constitute a system insofar as they are effective beliefs”. (ORTEGA Y GASSET, J. 1963: 283–284). According to this we can say that belief systems are those media by which people are able to live in the real world.
ABSTRACT Buddhism and economics are seem to be far from one another. Many people think that Buddh... more ABSTRACT Buddhism and economics are seem to be far from one another. Many people think that Buddhism is an ascetic religion with no interest in worldly affairs. It is not true. Buddhism has a well-developed social facet. Buddhists are often engaged in progressive social change. Buddhism poses a radical challenge for mainstream economics because denies the existence of the self. The Western way of life is centered on self-interest understood as satisfaction of the wishes of one’s body-mind ego. Buddhism challenges this view by a radically different conception, that is “anatta”, the “no-self”. The chapter gives an overview of the development of Buddhist economics. It presents E.F. Schumacher’s book “Small is beautiful”, Serge-Christopher Kolm’s formal model which treats consumption and meditation together, the seminal contribution by Ven. P. A. Payutto in his book “A Middle Way for the Market Place”, Shinichi Inoue’s view of economics and Buddhism, Richard Welford’s theorizing about Buddhist economics, and Apichai Puntasen’s conception of “panna”-ism as the Buddhist mode of production. KeywordsBuddhist economics-No-self-Right livelihood-Middle way-Economic wisdom
This concluding chapter summarizes the main messages of the book to stimulate the development of ... more This concluding chapter summarizes the main messages of the book to stimulate the development of a new agenda for spirituality and management. One facet of the agenda concentrates on practice: how businesses (and other organizations such as universities, government entities, not-for-profit health organizations and so on) should be transformed into more inclusive, holistic and peaceful activity systems serving nature, society and future generations. The other facet of the agenda concerns research: how to integrate spiritual experiences into the management profession. The basic advise for scholars and practitioners is that one should not manipulate spirituality. Spirituality is too critical; it goes to the heart of the matter, the essence of the human condition, and it is the keystone of a certain vision of reality. Hypocrisy is forbidden in this field. One should not use spirituality to develop his or her corporate reputation. Moreover, companies should not use spirituality as a management tool. It is not the last resort solution for management problems. Nor is spirituality a business opportunity. It is essentially a free, non-utilitarian option.
Issues in Business Ethics< br>&... more Issues in Business Ethics< br>< br> Laszlo Zsolnai Editor< br>< br> Spirituality and Ethics in Management< br>< br> Second Edition< br>< br> The book-which was originally published by Kluwer in 2004--is a collection of scholarly papers focusing on the role of spirituality ...
ABSTRACT The paper explores Buddhist economics for transforming business toward a more ecological... more ABSTRACT The paper explores Buddhist economics for transforming business toward a more ecological and human form. Buddhist economics is centered on want negation and purification of the human character. It challenges the basic principles of Western economics, (i) profit-maximization, (ii) cultivating desires, (iii) introducing markets, (iv) instrumental use of the world, and (v) self-interest based ethics. Buddhist economics proposes alternative principles such as (I) minimize suffering, (II) simplifying desires, (III) non-violence, (IV) genuine care, and (V) generosity. Buddhist economics is not a system but a strategy, which can be applied in any economic setting. Buddhist economics provides a rational, ethical, and ecological value background, which promotes happiness, peace and permanence.
The paper explores Buddhist economics as a major alternative to the Western economic mindset. Bud... more The paper explores Buddhist economics as a major alternative to the Western economic mindset. Buddhism is centred on want negation and purification of the human character. Buddhist economics, developed by Schumacher, Payutto, Welford and others, challenges the basic principles of modern Western economics: (1) profit-maximisation, (2) cultivating desires, (3) introducing markets, (4) instrumental use of the world, and (5) self-interest-based ethics. Buddhist economics proposes alternative principles such as minimising suffering, simplifying desires, non-violence, genuine care, and generosity. It is suggested that Buddhist economics is not a system but a strategy, which can be applied in any economic setting.
This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of referen... more This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret supererogatory actions and suggests that identity of companies can be a driving force behind these actions. Companies may perform actions against the narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call for supererogatory actions by companies more than ever before.
This paper argues that identity economics and social
psychology provide a useful frame of referen... more This paper argues that identity economics and social psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret supererogatory actions and suggests that identity of companies can be a driving force behind these actions. Companies may perform actions against the narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call for supererogatory actions by companies more than ever before.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main reasons for social innovations to ... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main reasons for social innovations to be successful in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, four famous cases of social innovation are studied and contrasted in the following dimensions: goals, means and skills/resources needed by the user. Findings – Exemplary social innovations do not have profit as their primary objective but emphasize social, spiritual and humanitarian goals such as minimizing suffering, empowering people and strengthening local communities. Originality/value – The paper shows that sensitivity to local culture and an ethos for serving the common good are preconditions of successful and lasting social innovations by business.
Business Ethics, the Environment, and Responsibility, 2022
Wellbeing is an organizing principle that ensures simultaneous flourishing of people and nature. ... more Wellbeing is an organizing principle that ensures simultaneous flourishing of people and nature. It binds together an ethic of nature and ethics of people/community into a practical framework for creating integrated socio-ecological wellbeing. This paper discusses the theoretical and practical implications of this position and presents illus-trative cases of innovative wellbeing-oriented organizations, both business and social. The paper explains why we need wellbeing organizations anchored in the wellbeing economy movement. A concept of resilient wellbeing organization is presented and illustrated with working models of existing organizations attempting to live up to the wellbeing values and practices. The paper ends with some thought on regulatory ena-bling of wellbeing organizations and makes practical implications for policy makers and managers, and suggestions for further research
Mainstream economics employs a rather simplified picture of economic systems. Economic actors are... more Mainstream economics employs a rather simplified picture of economic systems. Economic actors are grouped into three categories, namely individuals/households, firms, and the state. Among these actors only monetized transactions are considered. The ultimate goal of the economy is defined as maximization of individual income or financial wealth. In the reality of the twenty-first century the working of the economy is far more complex. Economic actors represent diverse types and the monetized transactions are only one from of the interactions among them. The paper suggests that we should consider economic actors such as individuals, organizations, communities, networks, and robots (or algorithms). Among these actors four basic types of interactions can be identified: market exchange, bureaucratic coordination, ethical transaction, and aggressive action. Different types of interactions may be combined but “crowding in” and “crowding out” effects may happen among them. For example, mark...
Despite of Martin Heidegger’s warning not modern technology but modern economizing destroys the B... more Despite of Martin Heidegger’s warning not modern technology but modern economizing destroys the Being. With its exclusive focus on profit-making modern economizing endangers the integrity and diversity of natural ecosystems, autonomy and culture of local communities, and chances of future generations for a decent life. This paper gives a critique of the profit principle and redefines economic rationality in a more holistic, substantive and humanistic form.
The International Manager as a Reflexive Practitioner S.Junghagen Achieving Environmental Sustain... more The International Manager as a Reflexive Practitioner S.Junghagen Achieving Environmental Sustainability A.Tencati & S.Pogutz Developing Social Responsibility S.Vallentin & M.Morsing Managing Gender and Diversity in Organizations M.A.Danowitz, E.Hanappi-Egger & R.Hofmann Reinventing Organizations with Information Communication Technologies P.Bielli Holistic Problem Solving K.Ims & L.Zsolnai Cooperating with Social and Political Actors E.O'Higgins, K.Schedler & Z.Boda Engaging in Progressive Entrepreneurship A.Tencati, F.Perrini, N.Hofstra & L.Zsolnai
Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, 1985
Naturally, there is only one real world but people are not directly living in this single real wo... more Naturally, there is only one real world but people are not directly living in this single real world. J. Ortega y Gasset wrote that “man must ever be grounded on some beliefs, and that the structure of his life will depend primordially on the beliefs on which he is grounded”. Beliefs, “always constitute a system insofar as they are effective beliefs”. (ORTEGA Y GASSET, J. 1963: 283–284). According to this we can say that belief systems are those media by which people are able to live in the real world.
ABSTRACT Buddhism and economics are seem to be far from one another. Many people think that Buddh... more ABSTRACT Buddhism and economics are seem to be far from one another. Many people think that Buddhism is an ascetic religion with no interest in worldly affairs. It is not true. Buddhism has a well-developed social facet. Buddhists are often engaged in progressive social change. Buddhism poses a radical challenge for mainstream economics because denies the existence of the self. The Western way of life is centered on self-interest understood as satisfaction of the wishes of one’s body-mind ego. Buddhism challenges this view by a radically different conception, that is “anatta”, the “no-self”. The chapter gives an overview of the development of Buddhist economics. It presents E.F. Schumacher’s book “Small is beautiful”, Serge-Christopher Kolm’s formal model which treats consumption and meditation together, the seminal contribution by Ven. P. A. Payutto in his book “A Middle Way for the Market Place”, Shinichi Inoue’s view of economics and Buddhism, Richard Welford’s theorizing about Buddhist economics, and Apichai Puntasen’s conception of “panna”-ism as the Buddhist mode of production. KeywordsBuddhist economics-No-self-Right livelihood-Middle way-Economic wisdom
This concluding chapter summarizes the main messages of the book to stimulate the development of ... more This concluding chapter summarizes the main messages of the book to stimulate the development of a new agenda for spirituality and management. One facet of the agenda concentrates on practice: how businesses (and other organizations such as universities, government entities, not-for-profit health organizations and so on) should be transformed into more inclusive, holistic and peaceful activity systems serving nature, society and future generations. The other facet of the agenda concerns research: how to integrate spiritual experiences into the management profession. The basic advise for scholars and practitioners is that one should not manipulate spirituality. Spirituality is too critical; it goes to the heart of the matter, the essence of the human condition, and it is the keystone of a certain vision of reality. Hypocrisy is forbidden in this field. One should not use spirituality to develop his or her corporate reputation. Moreover, companies should not use spirituality as a management tool. It is not the last resort solution for management problems. Nor is spirituality a business opportunity. It is essentially a free, non-utilitarian option.
Issues in Business Ethics< br>&... more Issues in Business Ethics< br>< br> Laszlo Zsolnai Editor< br>< br> Spirituality and Ethics in Management< br>< br> Second Edition< br>< br> The book-which was originally published by Kluwer in 2004--is a collection of scholarly papers focusing on the role of spirituality ...
ABSTRACT The paper explores Buddhist economics for transforming business toward a more ecological... more ABSTRACT The paper explores Buddhist economics for transforming business toward a more ecological and human form. Buddhist economics is centered on want negation and purification of the human character. It challenges the basic principles of Western economics, (i) profit-maximization, (ii) cultivating desires, (iii) introducing markets, (iv) instrumental use of the world, and (v) self-interest based ethics. Buddhist economics proposes alternative principles such as (I) minimize suffering, (II) simplifying desires, (III) non-violence, (IV) genuine care, and (V) generosity. Buddhist economics is not a system but a strategy, which can be applied in any economic setting. Buddhist economics provides a rational, ethical, and ecological value background, which promotes happiness, peace and permanence.
The paper explores Buddhist economics as a major alternative to the Western economic mindset. Bud... more The paper explores Buddhist economics as a major alternative to the Western economic mindset. Buddhism is centred on want negation and purification of the human character. Buddhist economics, developed by Schumacher, Payutto, Welford and others, challenges the basic principles of modern Western economics: (1) profit-maximisation, (2) cultivating desires, (3) introducing markets, (4) instrumental use of the world, and (5) self-interest-based ethics. Buddhist economics proposes alternative principles such as minimising suffering, simplifying desires, non-violence, genuine care, and generosity. It is suggested that Buddhist economics is not a system but a strategy, which can be applied in any economic setting.
Uploads
Papers by Laszlo Zsolnai
psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret
supererogatory actions and suggests that identity
of companies can be a driving force behind these
actions. Companies may perform actions against the
narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions
serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate
crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call
for supererogatory actions by companies more than
ever before.
psychology provide a useful frame of reference to interpret
supererogatory actions and suggests that identity
of companies can be a driving force behind these
actions. Companies may perform actions against the
narrow sense of economic rationality if those actions
serve purposes of high importance for them. The climate
crisis and the more recent COVID-19 crisis call
for supererogatory actions by companies more than
ever before.