Moral Capital : Bourdieu’s theory of practice and moral climate theory

Abstract

To many scholars and researchers in organisation and management studies, Bourdieu’s theory of practice as one of the grand sociological conceptual framework turns out to be an appealing toolkit to think with. What can Bourdieu’s theory of practice entail for moral climate theory as a relative new body of knowledge, and perhaps, vice versa? It is argued that, because of its lack of attention for the moral dimension, Bourdieu’s conceptual framework badly needs some extensions, notably a concept of moral capital. Moral capital as part of an individual’s habitus is put in order with the other forms of capital distinguished by Bourdieu. Next, it is transformed into an organisational concept being a part of an organisation’s (collective) habit. On its turn, moral climate theory can provide possible contents for organisational moral capital, more in particular, an institutional field-specific format for determining the required amount of moral capital an organisation needs to fulfil its essential tasks and assignment. This format also shows what the consequences are when organisations have either a deficit or a surplus of moral capital, when related to these tasks and assignments. Though Bourdieu’s conceptual framework is “good to think with”, one should not close one’s eyes for the pitfalls of using economist metaphors in areas not suitable for it, as it may work as a self-fulfilling prophecy.