Guest Editors’ Introduction: Philosophical Contributions to Leadership Ethics

Abstract

This article introduces the first of two special issues on philosophical approaches to leadership ethics. In it, we show some of the ways that philosophy contributes to the study of leadership and leadership ethics. We begin with an overview of how philosophers have treated some of the ethical aspects and challenges of leadership. These include discussions of self-interest, the problem of dirty hands, responsibility, moral luck, power, gender and diversity, and spirituality. The articles in this issue draw on philosophy to explore a variety of ethical questions related to leadership and the relationships that leaders have with followers and others.

A Stakeholder Perspective on Ethical Leadership in Sport: Bridging the Gap Between the Normative and Descriptive Lines of Inquiry

“…Normative inquiry into ethical leadership has strong historical roots, which go back as far as renowned ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristoteles ( Boaks & Levine, 2017 ; Takala, 1998 ). Ever since their written considerations, countless historians and philosophers have been applying a normative perspective on ethical leadership to highlight and discuss leadership’s “potential to greatly benefit or harm the well-being of people” ( Ciulla et al, 2018, p. 1 ). These and other insights on how leadership and ethics are intertwined have been studied in numerous settings, ranging from business, military, and medical contexts to contexts in culture, non-profit organizations, and sport.…”

“…Although many definitions exist, leadership can be understood as a process or relationship between a leader and follower(s) (in a narrow, hierarchical view) or stakeholder(s) (in a broad, less hierarchical view), aiming to accomplish shared goals ( Yukl, 2008 ). Within the extensive body of literature on leadership, there is consensus that leadership entails an inherent ethical dimension ( Ciulla et al, 2018 ). Ethics 1 are at “the heart of leadership” ( Ciulla et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Within the extensive body of literature on leadership, there is consensus that leadership entails an inherent ethical dimension ( Ciulla et al, 2018 ). Ethics 1 are at “the heart of leadership” ( Ciulla et al, 2018 ). In fact, formal forms of leadership imply some extent of authority, which causes leaders’ decisions to have a broad impact and increases the likelihood that ethical issues or dilemmas occur ( Flanigan, 2018 ; Heres, 2014 ).…”

The trickle‐down effect of ethical leadership in nonprofit soccer clubs

“…Although this conceptualization of ethical leadership has recently been criticized for its vagueness and lack of strong philosophical foundations (Ciulla, Knights, Mabey, & Tomkins, ; Eisenbeiß, ), it remains by far the most elaborate tool to empirically study perceptions of ethical leadership. In addition, the meaning of ethical leadership resides largely in the “moral eye of the beholder,” indicating that ethical leadership is a relational and co‐constructed phenomenon between leader and follower (Giessner, Van Quaquebeke, van Gils, van Knippenberg, & Kollée, ).…”

Guest Editors’ Introduction: Philosophical Approaches to Leadership Ethics II: Perspectives on the Self and Responsibility to Others

“…A s we noted in the introduction to the first of our two special issues, we embarked on this project because we wanted to encourage a more philosophical approach to the study of ethics in leadership studies. 1 We argued that ethics and leadership are intimately intertwined; ethical action in groups, organizations, and society is difficult unless leadership of some collective or communal shape or form is exercised, and it is often precisely the ethics, rather than the efficacy, of action that generates the greatest problems. For the field of leadership ethics to flourish, it must develop a stronger philosophical foundation to balance and complement the growing empirical literature in this area.…”