Article
Business is not a Game: The Metaphoric Fallacy
Journal of Business Ethics
(2009)
Abstract
Sport and game metaphors are ubiquitous in the culture and language of business. As evocative linguistic devices, such metaphors are morally neutral; however, if they are indicative of a deep structure of understanding that filters experience, then they have the potential to be ethically problematic. This article argues that there exists a danger for those who forget or confuse metaphor with definition: the metaphoric fallacy. Accordingly, business is like a game, but it is not the equivalent of a game. If business is equated to a game, then the potentially negative implications for ethical content and the application of ethical theories are numerous. This article suggests a fresh approach to issues of contemporary business ethics discourse, by attending to the business-as-game metaphor.
Disciplines
Publication Date
June, 2009
Citation Information
Maurice Hamington. "Business is not a Game: The Metaphoric Fallacy" Journal of Business Ethics Vol. 86 Iss. 4 (2009) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/maurice_hamington/32/