An experience in teaching virtue ethics in administration

Abstract

Teaching ethics in business involves numerous methods and perspectives. Virtues are stable character dispositions that have supported ethical actions. This article aims to discuss how virtues can be taught in Business, considering the case of graduate students in a doctoral elective discipline. The perspective of virtue ethics developed in business ethics composes the theoretical framework of this study, offering teaching and learning methods to cultivate moral and intellectual virtues. Through a qualitative case study approach, participant observation, and focus group interviews were conducted with doctoral students, providing data coded and interpreted with the support of Atlas.ti. Results show that theoretical discussions articulated to experiential activities, such as outdoor adventure education in the natural environment and film analysis, allow students to express a repertoire of virtues, as well as to be virtuous in the activities conducted. The importance of theoretical knowledge, leadership, and methods in conducting the practices is highlighted. The articulation between methods, involving theory and practical experience, contributes to the students' sensitivity to ethical issues, adding knowledge, decisions, and real actions that demand virtues such as courage and prudence. The research brings together methods for teaching-learning ethics in Management, indicating that the articulation between methods contributes to enriching knowledge, reflection, and perception about virtues.

Keywords

• ensino de ética em administração
• ética das virtudes
• ensino e aprendizagem
• metodologias experienciais