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Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation pp 443–464Cite as

In Quest of Exemplarity: Virtue Ethics as a Source of Transformation for Leaders and Organizations

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Abstract

We believe the starting point of any personal and organizational transformation is the individual itself. This chapter aims to link Western philosophical perspectives with the Latin notion of exemplarity as a vector for self-transformation and organizational transformation. The quasi-mythical notion of Exemplarity is in Latin cultures, which refers to individuals who exhibit exemplary behavior. Intrigued by the impact exemplary management behaviors produce in organizations, we will see how Exemplarity is essentially intentional, attitudinal, and behavioral.

Positing personal transformation as an imperative to transform the world around us, we will distinguish virtue ethics from consequentialist and deontological ethics. Thus, this chapter mainly focuses on virtue ethics as the philosophical foundation of our Perceived Managerial Exemplarity conceptual framework. Studying notions such as Example, Imitation and Exemplarity from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment period will bring us to our postmodern era.

We will identify two dynamics of exemplarity: on one hand, collective, normed mimetic processes that facilitate socialization, cultural assimilation, and the transmission of knowledge and skills. We associate these with Aristotle’s (Rhetoric) pragmatic, rhetorical, and inductive Example. On the other hand we find individuals who are sources of inspiration, appealing to what is best within human beings, encouraging agents to become better associates, better managers, and better people. We interpret this aspect as Plato’s (Republic) ontological, idealized, and abductive Example. These distinctions will help delve into both the normative and transformational qualities of exemplarity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Innovation Sociale et de la Performance Économique (LISPE), Institut de Gestion Sociale, Groupe IGS, 75017, Paris, France

    Richard J. Major

  2. Exemplarity Management Solutions, 84380, Mazan, France

    Richard J. Major

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  1. Richard J. Major
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Correspondence to Richard J. Major .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Edgewalkers International, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

    Judi Neal

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Major, R.J. (2018). In Quest of Exemplarity: Virtue Ethics as a Source of Transformation for Leaders and Organizations. In: Neal, J. (eds) Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66893-2_70

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