Whither Conservative Business Ethics? Addressing the Puzzling Absence of Conservative Thought in Business Ethics

Abstract Despite business ethics drawing on a wide range of philosophical perspectives, conservative thought remains strikingly underrepresented in the field. This paper addresses that absence by bringing the conservative philosophical tradition into conversation with business ethics. It first provides an overview of conservative thought, focussing in particular on Burke, Oakeshott, and Scruton. It then examines three strands of business ethics scholarship that appear to have affinities with conservative thought, namely libertarianism, the market failures approach, and virtue ethics, in order to identify possible points of dialogue with existing debates. Finally, the paper outlines a research agenda for conservative business ethics, highlighting issues such as conservative critiques of capitalism, environmental sustainability, and family business.