Abstract
How does context condition morality? This is one of the core questions of the sociology of morality and also one that has remained largely untheorized till date. In this article, we draw on insights from symbolic interactionism, and develop a theoretical framework that highlights the role of context in variation of morality. This framework is informed by a view of the self as a reflexive process that engages with moral norms through giving a self-account in relation to the norms. Based on this view, we distinguish between three contextual dimensions that condition morality: symbolic forms, scenes of address, and narrating subjects. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the presented theoretical framework for sociological studies of morality.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributor
Masoud Shadnam is an assistant professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at NEOMA Business School in France. He received his PhD in management and organization studies from Simon Fraser University in Canada. His research examines moral and cultural aspects of organizational settings from a descriptive perspective drawing primarily on insights from the disciplines of sociology and social philosophy. He is currently working on exploring the variation (across contexts), dynamics (over time), and politics of morality in organizational context.