Embodied Responsive Ethical Practice The Contribution of Merleau-Ponty for a Corporeal Ethics in Organizations

Abstract

Following a phenomenological understanding of the body and embodiment, this paper explores corporeal ethics as a practice in organisations. With the phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty, bodily dimensions and enfleshed intercorporeality are seen as media for ethically enacted and morally responsive, thus responsible forms of practicing and relationships. Then the article discusses specific forms of responsive and caring practices as well as the ethical relevance of bodies at work in organisations. Finally, practical, political, and theoretical implications are offered and perspectives for further investigating and incorporating practicing of ethics in organisations are outlined.