The Second Face of Evil: Wrongdoing in and by the Corporation

Abstract

The second face of evil is hurtful, rather than malevolent. We argue that this is likely to be the form of wrongdoing characteristic of corporate actors. This article views the corporation at 3 levels: the individual self-interested actors within it, the individual actors who respond to their hierarchical position, and the hierarchy (corporation) itself. Research shows that action inside complex organizations such as corporations is not necessarily more rational and informed by greater foresight than individual actions, but several studies indicate that individuals hold organizations to a higher level of responsibility than individuals committing similar acts, and they do so in part because they perceive organizations to enjoy greater foresight. We address this paradox by suggesting that future research address how the corporation's obligations to foresee consequences and the sheer, primitive consequences themselves may shape perceptions of corporate foreseeability.

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