Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Kierkegaard and the Aesthetic/Ethical Life-View: The Issue of Money Laundering

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Financial Crimes and Existential Philosophy

Part of the book series: Ethical Economy ((SEEP))

  • 777 Accesses

Abstract

In Either, Or as well as in the Stages on Life’s Way, Kierkegaard defined the various stages of moral reasoning, mainly the pre-ethical stage, the aesthetic stage, the ethical stage, and the religious stage. The pre-ethical stage is focusing of social acceptability, so that personal morality must be in accordance with the prevailing social standards of good/evil (cf. David Hume). The aesthetic stage is focusing on self-interest (cf. philosophical egoism: Smith, Hobbes, Spinoza), and thus on private morality (excluding any public morality). The ethical stage puts the emphasis on public morality (universal ethical principles, social values) and could give birth to moral universalism (Kant). The religious stage implies a deep relationship with the Infinite (God), so that every ethical issue is interpreted out of the decision-maker’s faith. In this chapter, we will use Kierkegaard’s notions of ethical/aesthetic life in order to unveil various ways to morally assess the phenomenon of money laundering. Morally assessing the phenomenon of money laundering requires to grasp the inner structure of the phenomenon itself. We could have various attitudes (aesthetic vs ethical) toward money launderers, given that the money they get from drug trade, smuggling and extortion is introduced in the national (legitimate) economy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Aristotle (2004, 69) believed that not-being means not being brought together, that is, being multiple (Aristotle, Métaphysique. Tome 2. Livres H-N, Paris, Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin). When Kierkegaard said that I am only me and not the other, he was saying that all components of my being are brought together so that I could be I, and never anybody else. But Kierkegaard was saying something much more important: I am, that is, I am not not-being. The assertion “I am” implies that non-being has not conquered my being. I can only be my being, and never not-being.

  2. 2.

    According to Heidegger (1962, 185–186), Dasein is that which is not yet, since it is potentiality-for-Being. Dasein is what it becomes.

  3. 3.

    The notion of eternal/unchanging happiness must be compared with the earthly-based/transitory happiness, which could be erased quite easily and quickly, when adverse conditions are arising (see: Agamemnon, 1330–1334) (Eschyles, Tragédies complètes. Paris: Gallimard, 1999, p. 305).

  4. 4.

    According to Rousseau (1978), freedom is the origin of oppression, while law is releasing oppressed people from their dehumanized condition. Indeed, Rousseau had an idealized view on Law: laws cannot be unjust (Jean-Jacques ROUSSEAU, Du contrat social. Paris: Garnier-Flammarion, 1978, p. 75). According to Nietzsche (1968b, 512), notions of just and unjust only exist after the institution of laws. There is nothing which is, in-itself, just or unjust, since there is no thing-in-itself.

  5. 5.

    According to Cassirer, Rousseau’s Emile is asserting the natural/originary social aptitude which could be observed in every human conduct: such basic aspect of human nature is the basis of every duty and moral consciousness (Ernst CASSIRER, Le problème Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris, Fayard/Pluriel, 2010, p. 119).

References

  • Agarwal, J.D., and Aman Agarwal. 2004. International money laundering in the banking sector. Finance India 18(2): 767–778.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alba, Ricardo M. 2002. Evolution of methods of money laundering in Latin America. Journal of Financial Crime 10(2): 137–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arendt, Hannah. 2005. Qu’est-ce que la philosophie de l’existence, suivi de L’existentialisme français. Paris: Éditions Payot et Rivage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argentiero, Amedeo, Michele Bagelia, and Francesco Busato. 2008. Money laundering in a two-sector model: Using theory for measurement. European Journal of Law and Economics 26: 341–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aristotle. 2004. Métaphysique. Tome 2. Livres H-N. Paris: Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustine. 1964. Confessions. Paris: Garnier-Flammarion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentham, Jeremy. 1834. Deontology, or the science of morality, vol. II. London: Longman, Rees, Orrme, Browne, Green and Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berdiaeff, Nicolas. 1936. Cinq méditations sur l’existence. Paris: Aubier/Montaigne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berdiaeff, Nicolas. 1950. Esprit et réalité. Paris: Aubier/Montaigne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bojarski, Janusz. 2007. Problems of black labour, illegal immigration and money laundering in Poland. Journal of Money Laundering Control 10(3): 367–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broudy, Harry S. 1941. Kierkegaard’s levels of existence. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 1(3): 294–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassirer, Ernst. 2010. Le problème Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Paris: Fayard/Pluriel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, Kathie, and Hemant Deo. 2006. The web of deception, money laundering and transnational crime: A double edge sword of power and illusion. Journal of the American Academy of Business 8(2): 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuéllar, Mariano-Florentino. 2003. The tenuous relationship between the fight money laundering and the disruption of criminal finance. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology 93(2–3): 311–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boyrie, Maria E., Simon J. Pak, and John S. Zdanowicz. 2004. Money laundering and income tax evasion: The determination of optimal audits and inspections to detect abnormal prices in international trade. Journal of Financial Crime 12(2): 123–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emmet, Dorothy M. 1941. Kierkegaard and the existential philosophy. Philosophy 16(63): 257–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eschyles. 1999. Tragédies complètes. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Favarel-Garrigues, Gilles, Thierry Godefroy, and Pierre Lascoumes. 2008. Sentinels in the banking industry. Private actors and the fight money laundering in France. British Journal of Criminology 48: 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, R.Z. 1982. Kierkegaard: First existentialist or last Kantian? Religious Studies 18(2): 159–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromm, Erich. 1968. L’art d’aimer. Paris: Éditions de l’Épi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goethe, Johann-Wolfgang. 1964. Faust. Paris: Garnier-Flammarion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grondin, Jean. 1993. L’universalité de l’herméneutique. Paris: Presses universitaires de France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, Kenneth. 1964. Kierkegaard on Sin. Scottish Journal of Theology 17(3): 289–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, Christopher. 1998. Kierkegaard on truth as subjectivity: Christianity, ethics and asceticism. Religious Studies 34(1): 61–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hampton, Mark P., and Michael Levi. 1999. Fast spinning into oblivion? Recent developments in money-laundering policies and offshore finance centers. Third World Quarterly 20(3): 645–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, Victoria S. 1997. Kierkegaard’s philosophical fragments: A clarification. Religious Studies 33(4): 455–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidegger, Martin. 1962. Being and time. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmer, Paul L. 1953. Kierkegaard and ethical theory. Ethics 63(3): 157–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacoby, Matthew Gerhard. 2002. Kierkeggard on truth. Religious Studies 38(1): 27–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers, Karl. 1970. Essais philosophiques. Paris: Petite bibliothèque Payot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurith, E. 2003. Acts of terror, illicit drugs and money laundering. Journal of Financial Crime 11(2): 158–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, Abrahim H. 1975. Kierkegaard’s conception of evil. Journal of Religion and Health 14(1): 63–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1968. Dans la lutte des souffrances. Discours chrétiens. Tome II. Paris: Delachaux & Niestlé.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1969a. Riens philosophiques. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1969b. Le concept de l’angoisse. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1972. Plus grand que notre cœur. Discours chrétiens. Tome IV. Paris: Delachaux & Niestlé.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1974a. Fear and trembling, and The sickness unto death. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1974b. Concluding unscientific postscript. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 1992. Either/or. A fragment of life-view. London: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 2004. La Dialectique de la communication. Paris: Payot/Rivages.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 2007. Étapes sur le chemin de la vie. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, Soeren. 2008. La Reprise. Paris: GF-Flammarion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemke, E.D. 1960. Some insights for ethical theory from Kierkegaard. The Philosophical Quarterly 10(41): 322–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurtz, Paul W. 1962. Kierkegaard, existentialism, and the contemporary scene. The Antioch Review 21(4): 471–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levi, Michael. 2002. Money laundering and its regulation. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 582: 181–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lhote, Aude-Marie. 1983. La notion de pardon chez Kierkegaard, ou Kierkegaard lecteur de l’Épître aux Romains. Paris: Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillegard, Norman. 2002. Passion and reason: Aristotelian strategies in Kierkegaard’s ethics. Journal of Religious Ethics 30(2): 251–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maritain, Jacques. 1941. La pensée de Saint Paul. New York: Éditions de la Maison Française.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massy, Laurence. 2008. The antiquity art market: Between legality and illegality. International Journal of Social Economics 35(10): 729–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris-Cotterill, Nigel. 1999. Use and abuse of the internet in fraud and money laundering. International Review of Law Computers & Technology 13(2): 211–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nietzsche, Friedrich. 1968. On the genealogy of morals. In Basic writings of Nietzsche, 449–599. New York: The Modern Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ospina-Velasco, Jaime. 2002. Combating money laundering and smuggling in Colombia. Journal of Financial Crime 10(2): 153–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, Edmund. 1956. Was Kierkegaard a “biblical” existentialist? The Journal of Religion 36(1): 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahn, Richard W. 2002. Taxation, money laundering and liberty. Journal of Financial Crime 9(4): 341–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remington Abramson, Neil. 2011. Kierkegaardian confessions: The relationship between moral reasoning and failure to be promoted. Journal of Business Ethics 98: 199–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricoeur, Paul. 1960. Philosophie de la volonté. Finitude et culpabilité. Tome 1. L’Homme faillible. Paris: Aubier/Montaigne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricoeur, Paul. 2000. La mémoire, l’histoire, l’oubli. Paris: Seuil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rider, Barry A.K. 2002. The weapons of war: The use of anti-money laundering laws against terrorist and criminal enterprises – Part 1. Journal of International Banking Regulation 4(1): 13–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, Jacques. 1978. Du contrat social. Paris: Garnier-Flammarion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, Jean-Paul. 1938. La Nausée. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, Jean-Paul. 1966. L’Universel singulier. In Kierkegaard vivant, 20–63. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, Jean-Paul. 1985a. Critique de la raison dialectique. Tome 2. L’intelligibilité de l’Histoire. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, Jean-Paul. 1985b. Critique de la raison dialectique, précédé de Questions de méthode. Tome 1. Théorie des ensembles pratiques. Paris: Gallimard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, Friedrich, and Ursula Windischbauer. 2008. Money laundering: Some facts. European Journal of Law and Economics 26: 387–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schrader, George. 1968. Kant and Kierkegaard on duty and inclination. The Journal of Philosophy 65(21): 688–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shakespeare, William. 1983. The illustrated Stratford Shakespeare. London: Chancellor Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Alan D. 2004a. Controversial and emerging issues associated with cybergambling (e-casinos). Online Information Review 28(6): 435–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Alan D. 2004b. Cybercriminal impacts on online business and consumer confidence. Online Information Review 28(3): 224–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, George J. 1973. Kierkegaard: The self and ethical existence. Ethics 83(2): 108–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stiltner, Brian. 1993. Who can understand Abraham? The relation of god and morality in Kierkegaard and Aquinas. The Journal of Religious Ethics 21(2): 221–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stucki, Pierre-André. 1963. Le Christianisme et l’Histoire d’après Kierkegaard. Basel: Verlag für Recht und Gesellschaft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swenson, David F. 1939. The existential dialectics of Soeren Kierkegaard. Ethics 49(3): 309–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, Harry S.K. 2002. E-fraud: Current trends and international developments. Journal of Financial Crime 9(4): 347–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhage, Antoinette, and Paul Ponsaers. 2009. Power-seeking crime? The professional thief versus the professional launderer. Crime, Law and Social Change 51: 399–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, Virginia L. 1982. A kierkegaardian approach to moral philosophy: The process of moral decision-making. The Journal of Religious Ethics 10(2): 221–237.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de management, Université de Sherbrooke Faculté d’administration, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

    Michel Dion

Authors
  1. Michel Dion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dion, M. (2014). Kierkegaard and the Aesthetic/Ethical Life-View: The Issue of Money Laundering. In: Financial Crimes and Existential Philosophy. Ethical Economy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7326-4_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation