Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Business Ethics 3/2021

16-12-2019 | Original Paper

A Normative Meaning of Meaningful Work

Author: Christopher Michaelson

Published in: Journal of Business Ethics | Issue 3/2021

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

Research on meaningful work has not embraced a shared definition of what it is, in part because many researchers and laypersons agree that it means different things to different people. However, subjective and social accounts of meaningful work have limited practical value to help people pursue it and to help scholars study it. The account of meaningful work advanced in this paper is inherently normative. It recognizes the relevance of subjective experience and social agreement to appraisals of meaningfulness but considers them conceptually incomplete and practically limited. According to this normative account, meaningful work should be meaningful to oneself and to others and is also meaningful independent of them. It sets forth grounds for evaluating some work to be more meaningful than other work, asserting the possibility that one could be mistaken about the meaningfulness of one’s work. While it thus proscribes some claims to meaningful work, it also opens up potential new avenues of inquiry into, among other things, self-aggrandizing and harmful work that is experienced as meaningful, morally valuable work that is not experienced as meaningful, and the distinction between experienced and normative meaningfulness.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
At the time the film was made, the Three Gorges Dam was the world’s largest hydroelectric project. It was conceived by leaders going as far back as Sun Yat-Sen, China’s first post-imperial leader, and championed by Mao Tse-Tung early in his administration for both its symbolic value (technological and economic advancement, and humanity’s ability to control nature) and its humanitarian value (taming “China’s sorrow”—a river that brought floods, death, and devastation throughout its history—and bringing electricity to millions of rural poor) (Dai and Sullivan 1999). Throughout its construction and since its completion, it has been the subject of controversy because of environmental concerns (despite being the source of so-called clean energy, it disrupted the natural ecology and became the source of potentially unintended consequences such as sedimentary deposits that choked off natural life) and social concerns (including the flooding of cultural treasures and of villages requiring the displacement of millions of people leaving ancestral homes in exchange for modern, sterile apartments) (Hvistendahl 2008). While Up the Yangtze focuses on the narratives of Cindy and Jerry, the narrative of the dam itself and its stakeholders is a larger subject of the film.
 
2
Wolf’s demand for objective attractiveness may less familiar to empirical social scientists who endeavor to study what work is experienced and perceived as meaningful, not necessarily whether or why they may be right or wrong to experience and perceive it as such. Among philosophers today studying the meaningfulness of life, however, “a majority…are objectivists of some kind, aiming to detect a common denominator [cf. my generalizability criterion for a definition] among the various ways of living in the physical world that confer meaning at least partially in virtue of mind-independent factors” (Metz 2013, p. 181). However, in meaningful work scholarship, ethicists have not only typically left “meaningful” to be defined by the beholder; they have also typically (with the notable exception of Veltman 2016) used “objective” in a different sense: to refer to the “moral conditions” of work, such as being “treated with dignity and respect” (Ciulla 2000, p. 225)—that is, the “external, objective context that shapes and legitimizes what may be considered meaningful by the individual” (Bailey et al. 2018a, p. 11), in a system in which the worker is treated as a “factor of production” (Pope John Paul II 1981). It is also important to distinguish my use of “objective” from that of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, to which it is in some ways diametrically opposed, including to Randian Objectivism’s precept that the moral purpose of life is to pursue egoistic happiness.
 
Literature
go back to reference 9/11 Commission. (2004). The 9/11 Commission Report: Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. 9/11 Commission. (2004). The 9/11 Commission Report: Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
go back to reference Allen, R. E. (1984). The early dialogues of Plato. New Haven: Yale University Press. Allen, R. E. (1984). The early dialogues of Plato. New Haven: Yale University Press.
go back to reference Arlidge, J., & Beresford, P. (2009, November 8). Inside the goldmine. Sunday Times Arlidge, J., & Beresford, P. (2009, November 8). Inside the goldmine. Sunday Times
go back to reference Arneson, R. J. (1987). Meaningful work and market socialism. Ethics, 97, 517–545. Arneson, R. J. (1987). Meaningful work and market socialism. Ethics, 97, 517–545.
go back to reference Audi, R. (2005). Intrinsic value and meaningful life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 331–355. Audi, R. (2005). Intrinsic value and meaningful life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 331–355.
go back to reference Bailey, C., Lips-Wiersma, M., Madden, A., Yeoman, R., Thompson, M., & Chalofsky, N. (2018a). The five paradoxes of meaningful work: Introduction to the special issue of ‘Meaningful Work: Prospects for the 21st Century”. Journal of Management Studies, 56(3), 481–499. Bailey, C., Lips-Wiersma, M., Madden, A., Yeoman, R., Thompson, M., & Chalofsky, N. (2018a). The five paradoxes of meaningful work: Introduction to the special issue of ‘Meaningful Work: Prospects for the 21st Century”. Journal of Management Studies, 56(3), 481–499.
go back to reference Bailey, C., & Madden, A. (2016). What makes work meaningful—or meaningless. MIT Sloan Management Review, 57(4), 53–61. Bailey, C., & Madden, A. (2016). What makes work meaningful—or meaningless. MIT Sloan Management Review, 57(4), 53–61.
go back to reference Beadle, R., & Knight, K. (2012). Virtue and meaningful work. Business Ethics Quarterly, 22, 433–450. Beadle, R., & Knight, K. (2012). Virtue and meaningful work. Business Ethics Quarterly, 22, 433–450.
go back to reference Beatty, J. E., & Torbert, W. (2003). The false duality of work and leisure. Journal of Management Inquiry, 12, 239–252. Beatty, J. E., & Torbert, W. (2003). The false duality of work and leisure. Journal of Management Inquiry, 12, 239–252.
go back to reference Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (1985). Habits of the heart. New York: Harper and Row. Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (1985). Habits of the heart. New York: Harper and Row.
go back to reference Berg, J. M., Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2010). Perceiving and responding to challenges in job crafting at different ranks: When proactivity requires adaptivity. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 158–186. Berg, J. M., Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2010). Perceiving and responding to challenges in job crafting at different ranks: When proactivity requires adaptivity. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 158–186.
go back to reference Bowie, N. E. (1998). A Kantian theory of meaningful work. Journal of Business Ethics, 17, 1083–1092. Bowie, N. E. (1998). A Kantian theory of meaningful work. Journal of Business Ethics, 17, 1083–1092.
go back to reference Brogaard, B., & Smith, B. (2005). On luck, responsibility, and the meaning of life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 443–458. Brogaard, B., & Smith, B. (2005). On luck, responsibility, and the meaning of life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 443–458.
go back to reference Bunderson, J. S., & Thompson, J. A. (2009). The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the dual edges of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54, 32–57. Bunderson, J. S., & Thompson, J. A. (2009). The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the dual edges of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54, 32–57.
go back to reference Care, N. (1984). Career choice. Ethics, 94, 283–302. Care, N. (1984). Career choice. Ethics, 94, 283–302.
go back to reference Chang, Y. (Writer and Director). (2007). Up the Yangtze (Documentary). Montreal, Quebec, Canada: EyeSteelFilm, the National Film Board of Canada, et al. (Co-Production); Zeitgeist Films (Distribution in the USA). Chang, Y. (Writer and Director). (2007). Up the Yangtze (Documentary). Montreal, Quebec, Canada: EyeSteelFilm, the National Film Board of Canada, et al. (Co-Production); Zeitgeist Films (Distribution in the USA).
go back to reference Ciulla, J. (2000). The working life: The promise and betrayal of modern work. New York: Three Rivers Press. Ciulla, J. (2000). The working life: The promise and betrayal of modern work. New York: Three Rivers Press.
go back to reference Cottingham, J. (2003). On the meaning of life. London: Routledge. Cottingham, J. (2003). On the meaning of life. London: Routledge.
go back to reference Crawford, M. (2009). Shop class as soulcraft: An inquiry into the value of work. New York: Penguin. Crawford, M. (2009). Shop class as soulcraft: An inquiry into the value of work. New York: Penguin.
go back to reference Dai, Q., & Sullivan, L. R. (1999). The Three Gorges Dam and China’s energy dilemma. Journal of International Affairs, 53(1), 56–57. Dai, Q., & Sullivan, L. R. (1999). The Three Gorges Dam and China’s energy dilemma. Journal of International Affairs, 53(1), 56–57.
go back to reference Danaher, J. (2017). Will life be worth living in a world without work? Technological unemployment and the meaning of life. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23(1), 41–64. Danaher, J. (2017). Will life be worth living in a world without work? Technological unemployment and the meaning of life. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23(1), 41–64.
go back to reference Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2009). Calling and vocation at work: Definitions and prospects for research and practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 424–450. Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2009). Calling and vocation at work: Definitions and prospects for research and practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 424–450.
go back to reference Dobrow, S. R. (2013). Dynamics of calling: A longitudinal study of musicians. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34, 431–452. Dobrow, S. R. (2013). Dynamics of calling: A longitudinal study of musicians. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34, 431–452.
go back to reference Dobrow, S. R., & Tosti-Kharas, J. (2011). Calling: The development of a scale measure. Personnel Psychology, 64, 1001–1049. Dobrow, S. R., & Tosti-Kharas, J. (2011). Calling: The development of a scale measure. Personnel Psychology, 64, 1001–1049.
go back to reference Duffy, R. D., Autin, K. L., England, J. W., Douglass, R. P., & Gensmer, N. P. (2018a). Examining the effects of contextual variables on living a calling over time. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 107, 141–152. Duffy, R. D., Autin, K. L., England, J. W., Douglass, R. P., & Gensmer, N. P. (2018a). Examining the effects of contextual variables on living a calling over time. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 107, 141–152.
go back to reference Duffy, R. D., Douglass, R. P., Gensmer, N. P., England, J. W., & Kim, H. J. (2018b). An initial examination of the work as a calling theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(3), 328–340. Duffy, R. D., Douglass, R. P., Gensmer, N. P., England, J. W., & Kim, H. J. (2018b). An initial examination of the work as a calling theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(3), 328–340.
go back to reference Fischer, J. M. (2005). Free will, death, and immortality: The role of narrative. Philosophical Papers, 34, 379–403. Fischer, J. M. (2005). Free will, death, and immortality: The role of narrative. Philosophical Papers, 34, 379–403.
go back to reference Frank, R. H. (2016). Success and luck: Good fortune and the myth of meritocracy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Frank, R. H. (2016). Success and luck: Good fortune and the myth of meritocracy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
go back to reference Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Boston: Beacon Press. Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.
go back to reference Fried, Y., & Ferris, G. R. (1987). The validity of the job characteristics model: A review and meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 40, 287–322. Fried, Y., & Ferris, G. R. (1987). The validity of the job characteristics model: A review and meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 40, 287–322.
go back to reference Gallie, W. B. (1956). Essentially contested concepts. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 56, 167–198. Gallie, W. B. (1956). Essentially contested concepts. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 56, 167–198.
go back to reference Gini, A. (2001). My job, my self: Work and the creation of the modern individual. New York: Routledge. Gini, A. (2001). My job, my self: Work and the creation of the modern individual. New York: Routledge.
go back to reference Grant, A. M. (2007). Relational job design and the motivation to make a prosocial difference. Academy of Management Review, 32, 393–417. Grant, A. M. (2007). Relational job design and the motivation to make a prosocial difference. Academy of Management Review, 32, 393–417.
go back to reference Grant, A. M. (2008). Employees without a cause: The motivational effects of prosocial impact in public service. International Public Management Journal, 11, 48–66. Grant, A. M. (2008). Employees without a cause: The motivational effects of prosocial impact in public service. International Public Management Journal, 11, 48–66.
go back to reference Grant, A. M. (2011). How customers can rally your troops: End users can energize your workforce far better than your managers can. Harvard Business Review, 89, 97–103. Grant, A. M. (2011). How customers can rally your troops: End users can energize your workforce far better than your managers can. Harvard Business Review, 89, 97–103.
go back to reference Grant, A. M., Campbell, E. M., Chen, G., Cottone, K., Lapedis, D., & Lee, K. (2007). Impact and the art of motivation maintenance: The effects of contact with beneficiaries on persistence behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 103, 53–67. Grant, A. M., Campbell, E. M., Chen, G., Cottone, K., Lapedis, D., & Lee, K. (2007). Impact and the art of motivation maintenance: The effects of contact with beneficiaries on persistence behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 103, 53–67.
go back to reference Hackman, J. R., & Lawler, E. E. (1971). Employee reactions to job characteristics. Journal of Applied Psychology, 55, 259–286. Hackman, J. R., & Lawler, E. E. (1971). Employee reactions to job characteristics. Journal of Applied Psychology, 55, 259–286.
go back to reference Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16, 250–279. Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16, 250–279.
go back to reference Hsieh, N. (2005). Rawlsian justice and workplace republicanism. Social Theory and Practice, 31, 115–142. Hsieh, N. (2005). Rawlsian justice and workplace republicanism. Social Theory and Practice, 31, 115–142.
go back to reference Hsieh, N. (2008). Justice in production. Journal of Political Philosophy, 16, 72–100. Hsieh, N. (2008). Justice in production. Journal of Political Philosophy, 16, 72–100.
go back to reference Hurst, A. (2014). The purpose economy. Seattle: Imperative. Hurst, A. (2014). The purpose economy. Seattle: Imperative.
go back to reference James, L. (2005). Achievement and the meaningfulness of life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 429–442. James, L. (2005). Achievement and the meaningfulness of life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 429–442.
go back to reference Kim, T. W., & Scheller-Wolf, A. A. (2019). Technological employment, meaning in life, purpose of business, and the future of stakeholders. Journal of Business Ethics, 160, 319–337. Kim, T. W., & Scheller-Wolf, A. A. (2019). Technological employment, meaning in life, purpose of business, and the future of stakeholders. Journal of Business Ethics, 160, 319–337.
go back to reference King, L. A., Hicks, J. A., Krull, J., & Del Gaiso, A. K. (2006). Positive affect and the experience of meaning in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 179–196. King, L. A., Hicks, J. A., Krull, J., & Del Gaiso, A. K. (2006). Positive affect and the experience of meaning in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 179–196.
go back to reference Lepisto, D. A., & Pratt, M. G. (2017). Meaningful work as realization and justification: Toward a dual conceptualization. Organizational Psychology Review, 7, 99–121. Lepisto, D. A., & Pratt, M. G. (2017). Meaningful work as realization and justification: Toward a dual conceptualization. Organizational Psychology Review, 7, 99–121.
go back to reference Lips-Wiersma, M., & Morris, L. (2009). Discriminating between ‘meaningful work’ and ‘management of meaning’. Journal of Business Ethics, 88, 491–511. Lips-Wiersma, M., & Morris, L. (2009). Discriminating between ‘meaningful work’ and ‘management of meaning’. Journal of Business Ethics, 88, 491–511.
go back to reference Lysova, E. I., Allan, B. A., Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., & Steger, M. F. (2018). Fostering meaningful work in organizations: A multi-level review and integration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 110, 374–389. Lysova, E. I., Allan, B. A., Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., & Steger, M. F. (2018). Fostering meaningful work in organizations: A multi-level review and integration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 110, 374–389.
go back to reference Maitland, I. (1989). Rights in the workplace: A Nozickian argument. Journal of Business Ethics, 8, 951–954. Maitland, I. (1989). Rights in the workplace: A Nozickian argument. Journal of Business Ethics, 8, 951–954.
go back to reference Metz, T. (2005). Introduction (to a special issue on meaning in life). Philosophical Papers, 34, 311–329. Metz, T. (2005). Introduction (to a special issue on meaning in life). Philosophical Papers, 34, 311–329.
go back to reference Metz, T. (2011). The good, the true, and the beautiful: Toward a unified account of great meaning in life. Religious Studies, 47, 389–409. Metz, T. (2011). The good, the true, and the beautiful: Toward a unified account of great meaning in life. Religious Studies, 47, 389–409.
go back to reference Metz, T. (2012). The meaningful and the worthwhile: Clarifying the relationships. Philosophical Forum, 43(4), 435–448. Metz, T. (2012). The meaningful and the worthwhile: Clarifying the relationships. Philosophical Forum, 43(4), 435–448.
go back to reference Michaelson, C. (2005). Meaningful motivation for work motivation theory. Academy of Management Review, 30(2), 235–238. Michaelson, C. (2005). Meaningful motivation for work motivation theory. Academy of Management Review, 30(2), 235–238.
go back to reference Michaelson, C. (2009). Teaching meaningful work: Philosophical discussions on the ethics of career choice. Journal of Business Ethics Education, 6, 43–67. Michaelson, C. (2009). Teaching meaningful work: Philosophical discussions on the ethics of career choice. Journal of Business Ethics Education, 6, 43–67.
go back to reference Michaelson, C. (2019). Do we have to do meaningful work? In R. Yeoman, C. Bailey, A. Madden, & M. Thompson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of meaningful work (pp. 117–132). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Michaelson, C. (2019). Do we have to do meaningful work? In R. Yeoman, C. Bailey, A. Madden, & M. Thompson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of meaningful work (pp. 117–132). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Michaelson, C., Pratt, M. G., Grant, A. M., & Dunn, C. P. (2014). Meaningful work: Connecting business ethics and organization studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(1), 77–90. Michaelson, C., Pratt, M. G., Grant, A. M., & Dunn, C. P. (2014). Meaningful work: Connecting business ethics and organization studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(1), 77–90.
go back to reference Michaelson, C., & Tosti-Kharas, J. (2019). Serving self or serving others: Close relations’ perspectives on the ethics of calling. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 114, 19–30. Michaelson, C., & Tosti-Kharas, J. (2019). Serving self or serving others: Close relations’ perspectives on the ethics of calling. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 114, 19–30.
go back to reference Midgley, M. (1991). Can’t we make moral judgments?. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Midgley, M. (1991). Can’t we make moral judgments?. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
go back to reference Moriarty, J. (2009). Rawls, self-respect, and the opportunity for meaningful work. Social Theory and Practice, 35, 441–459. Moriarty, J. (2009). Rawls, self-respect, and the opportunity for meaningful work. Social Theory and Practice, 35, 441–459.
go back to reference Moriarty, J. (2010). Participation in the workplace: Are employees special? Journal of Business Ethics, 92, 373–384. Moriarty, J. (2010). Participation in the workplace: Are employees special? Journal of Business Ethics, 92, 373–384.
go back to reference Morson, G. S. (2007). ‘Anna Karenina’ in our time: Seeing more wisely. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. Morson, G. S. (2007). ‘Anna Karenina’ in our time: Seeing more wisely. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press.
go back to reference Needleman, J. (1994). Money and the meaning of life. New York: Doubleday. Needleman, J. (1994). Money and the meaning of life. New York: Doubleday.
go back to reference Nozick, R. (1974). Anarchy, state, and utopia. New York: Basic Books. Nozick, R. (1974). Anarchy, state, and utopia. New York: Basic Books.
go back to reference Okhuysen, G. A., Lepak, D., Ashcraft, K. L., Labianca, G., Smith, V., & Steensma, H. K. (2013). Theories of work and working today. Academy of Management Review, 38(4), 491–502. Okhuysen, G. A., Lepak, D., Ashcraft, K. L., Labianca, G., Smith, V., & Steensma, H. K. (2013). Theories of work and working today. Academy of Management Review, 38(4), 491–502.
go back to reference Pieper, J. (1952). Leisure: The basis of culture. New York: New American Library. Pieper, J. (1952). Leisure: The basis of culture. New York: New American Library.
go back to reference Pope John Paul II. 1981. Laborem exercens. Encyclical on human work. Pope John Paul II. 1981. Laborem exercens. Encyclical on human work.
go back to reference Pratt, M. G. (2000). The good, the bad, and the ambivalent: Managing identification among Amway distributors. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45(3), 456–493. Pratt, M. G. (2000). The good, the bad, and the ambivalent: Managing identification among Amway distributors. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45(3), 456–493.
go back to reference Pratt, M. G., & Ashforth, B. E. (2003). Fostering meaningfulness in working and at work. In K. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline (pp. 308–327). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler. Pratt, M. G., & Ashforth, B. E. (2003). Fostering meaningfulness in working and at work. In K. Cameron, J. E. Dutton, & R. E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline (pp. 308–327). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
go back to reference Ransome, P. (1996). The work paradigm: A theoretical investigation of concepts of work. Aldershot, Hants, England: Avebury. Ransome, P. (1996). The work paradigm: A theoretical investigation of concepts of work. Aldershot, Hants, England: Avebury.
go back to reference Rorty, R. (1991). Objectivity, relativism, and truth: Philosophical papers. New York: Cambridge University Press. Rorty, R. (1991). Objectivity, relativism, and truth: Philosophical papers. New York: Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Rorty, R. (1998). Truth and progress: Philosophical papers. New York: Cambridge University Press. Rorty, R. (1998). Truth and progress: Philosophical papers. New York: Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Rosso, B. D., Dekas, K. H., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2010). On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30, 91–127. Rosso, B. D., Dekas, K. H., & Wrzesniewski, A. (2010). On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30, 91–127.
go back to reference Schaff, K. P. (2001). Philosophy and the problems of work: A reader. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Schaff, K. P. (2001). Philosophy and the problems of work: A reader. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
go back to reference Schor, J. (1991). The overworked American: The unexpected decline of leisure. New York: Basic Books. Schor, J. (1991). The overworked American: The unexpected decline of leisure. New York: Basic Books.
go back to reference Schwartz, A. (1982). Meaningful work. Ethics, 92, 634–646. Schwartz, A. (1982). Meaningful work. Ethics, 92, 634–646.
go back to reference Seachris, J. W. (Ed.). (2013). General introduction to Exploring the meaning of life: An anthology and guide. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Seachris, J. W. (Ed.). (2013). General introduction to Exploring the meaning of life: An anthology and guide. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
go back to reference Straub, R., & Kirby, J. (2017). Meaningful work should not be a privilege of the elite. Harvard Business Review, April 3. Straub, R., & Kirby, J. (2017). Meaningful work should not be a privilege of the elite. Harvard Business Review, April 3.
go back to reference Taylor, R. (2000). Good and evil. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. Taylor, R. (2000). Good and evil. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
go back to reference Thomas, L. (2005). Morality and a meaningful life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 405–427. Thomas, L. (2005). Morality and a meaningful life. Philosophical Papers, 34, 405–427.
go back to reference Thomson, G. (2002). On the meaning of life. Belmont, MA: Thomson Wadsworth. Thomson, G. (2002). On the meaning of life. Belmont, MA: Thomson Wadsworth.
go back to reference Velleman, J. D. (2005). Family history. Philosophical Papers, 34, 357–378. Velleman, J. D. (2005). Family history. Philosophical Papers, 34, 357–378.
go back to reference Veltman, A. (2016). Meaningful work. New York: Oxford University Press. Veltman, A. (2016). Meaningful work. New York: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Walsh, A. J. (1994). Meaningful work as a distributive good. Southern Journal of Philosophy, 32, 233–250. Walsh, A. J. (1994). Meaningful work as a distributive good. Southern Journal of Philosophy, 32, 233–250.
go back to reference Weeks, K. P., & Schaffert, C. (2019). Generational differences in definitions of meaningful work: A mixed methods study. Journal of Business Ethics, 156, 1045–1061. Weeks, K. P., & Schaffert, C. (2019). Generational differences in definitions of meaningful work: A mixed methods study. Journal of Business Ethics, 156, 1045–1061.
go back to reference Wolf, S. (2010). Meaning in life and why it matters. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Wolf, S. (2010). Meaning in life and why it matters. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
go back to reference Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201. Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201.
go back to reference Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People’s relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 21–33. Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People’s relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 21–33.
go back to reference Yeoman, R. (2014). Conceptualising meaningful work as a fundamental human need. Journal of Business Ethics, 125, 235–251. Yeoman, R. (2014). Conceptualising meaningful work as a fundamental human need. Journal of Business Ethics, 125, 235–251.
go back to reference Yeoman, R., Bailey, C., Madden, A., & Thompson, M. (2019). Introduction to The Oxford handbook of meaningful work. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Yeoman, R., Bailey, C., Madden, A., & Thompson, M. (2019). Introduction to The Oxford handbook of meaningful work. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Metadata
Title
A Normative Meaning of Meaningful Work
Author
Christopher Michaelson
Publication date
16-12-2019
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Journal of Business Ethics / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Electronic ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04389-0

Other articles of this Issue 3/2021

Journal of Business Ethics 3/2021 Go to the issue