The role of ethics, even in its absence, is essential in the economic discourse, despite its shifting through different theories. From the political Aristotelian tradition to the recent reflection about the concept of postmodern society – through the theory of maximizing the personal interest belonging to Utilitarianism– the moral questions and its dilemma, either accepted or rejected as non sense, have always indicated the directions to the human acts. This paper is focused on consumption field seen as the favourite place where emerge all the contradictions of ethical human behaviour (in terms of choice, moral obligations, individual interests etc). Firstly, the foundations of consumer’s ethical responsibility is explored by addressing the changes from Modernity to Postmodernity and their alternative models of consumption. It is argued that, paradoxically, the traces of “liquid society” with the fall of social structure, represent the beginning for developing a new kind of consumer defined as citizen who is able to embrace a sustainable and moral concept of consumption focused on collective well-being. Secondly, after having defined the main features of ethical consumer, the paper addresses the role of ethics as the element which makes possible the communication between the two spheres of production and consumption. In this regard, following the dialectic between “rights” and “duties” articulated by Schrader, the responsibility of consumer is showed to be at the foundation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The consumer as citizen: the role of ethics for a sustainable consumption / Ricci, C.; Marinelli, N.; Puliti, L.. - In: AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCE PROCEDIA. - ISSN 2210-7843. - ELETTRONICO. - 8:(2016), pp. 395-401. (Intervento presentato al convegno Florence Sustainability of Well-Being International Forum 2015: Food for Sustainability and Not Just Food – FlorenceSWIF2015 tenutosi a Florence, Italy nel 4-6 June 2015) [10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.035].

The consumer as citizen: the role of ethics for a sustainable consumption

RICCI, CECILIA;MARINELLI, NICOLA;PULITI, LORENZO
2016

Abstract

The role of ethics, even in its absence, is essential in the economic discourse, despite its shifting through different theories. From the political Aristotelian tradition to the recent reflection about the concept of postmodern society – through the theory of maximizing the personal interest belonging to Utilitarianism– the moral questions and its dilemma, either accepted or rejected as non sense, have always indicated the directions to the human acts. This paper is focused on consumption field seen as the favourite place where emerge all the contradictions of ethical human behaviour (in terms of choice, moral obligations, individual interests etc). Firstly, the foundations of consumer’s ethical responsibility is explored by addressing the changes from Modernity to Postmodernity and their alternative models of consumption. It is argued that, paradoxically, the traces of “liquid society” with the fall of social structure, represent the beginning for developing a new kind of consumer defined as citizen who is able to embrace a sustainable and moral concept of consumption focused on collective well-being. Secondly, after having defined the main features of ethical consumer, the paper addresses the role of ethics as the element which makes possible the communication between the two spheres of production and consumption. In this regard, following the dialectic between “rights” and “duties” articulated by Schrader, the responsibility of consumer is showed to be at the foundation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
2016
Florence Sustainability of Well-Being International Forum 2015: Food for Sustainability and Not Just Food – FlorenceSWIF2015
Florence Sustainability of Well-Being International Forum 2015: Food for Sustainability and Not Just Food – FlorenceSWIF2015
Florence, Italy
4-6 June 2015
Ricci, C.; Marinelli, N.; Puliti, L.
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1039436
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