A Philosophical Approach To CSR In East Asia: The Integration of Confucianism, Legalism, And Taoism

Abstract

Despite the increasing attention on the traditional East Asia philosophies, it is hard to find systematic theoretical frameworks characterized by different philosophical attributes. This paper identifies Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism as three influential philosophies in East Asia, and establishes a comprehensive framework to operationalize the interrelationship of these philosophies in driving CSR outcomes. This paper thus offers a new lens for understanding CSR from a philosophical standpoint.A Venn diagram is applied to explain the interdependent relationship between the three philosophies. A modified ReVaMB model is applied to CSR, and the moderating role of context and various multilevel factors is highlighted. A philosophical approach to CSR is proposed by integrating Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism. The interactions between the three philosophies are operationalized through a philosophical Venn diagram, which generates new variables which can be used to predict CSR outcomes. A ReVaMB-CSR model is established that provides a new arena for CSR research with a focus on traditional philosophical values. The ReVaMB-CSR model can be used to analyze CSR at institutional, organizational, and individual levels, significantly raising philosophically focused CSR studies to a new stage. Other indigenous values or more specific ethical and cultural values can be included to enrich the model, and empirical studies with qualitative or quantitative research methods are called for, to test and modify the model.This study responds to calls for more indigenous theories of CSR and knowledge that better reflects the localized conditions under which CSR strategies and actions are formulated, in turn leading to more effective CSR outcomes.