On the Private and Public Virtues of an Honorable Entrepreneur
Preventing a Separation of the Honorable and the Useful
By (author) Felix R. Livingston author of On the Private and Public Virtues of an Honorable Entrepreneur?
Publication date:
15 September 2018Length of book:
140 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksDimensions:
232x159mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781498575577
Alexis de Tocqueville’s writings on honor, and his observation that a democracy’s definition of honor “stands for the peculiar individual character of that nation before the world,” provide inspiration for an ideal entrepreneurial innovator discussed in this book. Beginning with Aristotle, contributions of the giants of moral, political, and economic thinking are aggregated in a Credo for honorable entrepreneurs who are dedicated to freedom and general human flourishing. The Credo’s maxims and duties can help entrepreneurs prevent a separation of the honorable and the useful, which is a moral challenge faced by many leaders in all parts of society. Like-minded individuals who share this vision can rebalance power and repair America’s triune social order, while creating wealth and a surplus that can benefit the poorest among us.
This very interesting short book takes readers from Aristotle to Alexis de Tocqueville to the present day in explaining the important role of honorable entrepreneurs. The problem that has emerged in modern times is crony capitalism, in which powerful interest groups use government to protect vested interests to the detriment of society as a whole. This is not the world of free enterprise and laissez faire, as the author makes clear. Self-interest is an important motivator for entrepreneurs, but so is an awareness that the welfare of others is important for the social order. Adam Smith understood these aspects of human behavior. Three categories of entrepreneurs are found today: those who are ignorant of their impact on the social order, those who understand the impact but ignore it, and those who are unscrupulous and willingly violate the law to achieve their ends. The author argues that honorable entrepreneurs are guided by ethical beliefs, traditions, and aesthetic value judgments. The concluding chapter reflects on how a shared vision of honorable entrepreneurship can help create a better society. A worthwhile read recommended for all.
Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.
Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.