A NEW PARADIGMA OF THE ECONOMICAL AGENT. FROM ADAM SMITHS HOMO ECONOMICUS TO HOMO GENEROSUS BASED ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract

Analyzed form outside, many actions of the economical agent seem to be impulse by the self interest. As a prototype of this kind of person we have the Homo economicus as Adam Smith described it. In a blitz portrait we identify some characteristics: he is perfect rational, perfect egoist, perfect free, perfect competitive and perfect social. The aim of this research is to permute the barycentre from Homo economicus based on self interest, to Homo generosus, based on social responsibility. As a support we have used the prison dilemma to illustrate the roll of cooperation instead self interest. This new coordination will be analyzed to the level of ethical system. Homo economicus is identified in ethics of consequences and the homo generosus in ethics of duty. In my vision, the prototype of homo generosus, is delineated under Kant's categorical imperative: respectful, based on principles as subject and sovereign.

Keywords

• ethical system
• self interest
• cooperation