Abraham Singer
Associate Professor
Professor Singer’s teaching and research lies at the intersection of business ethics and political theory. In his teaching, Singer aims to challenge students by exposing them to the grander and more abstract ideas and theories that inform the business world they are entering and the sorts of moral dilemmas they will find themselves facing.
In his research, Singer’s work critically appraises the commercial activity and economic institutions we take for granted by considering them in light of our background socio-political institutions and the underlying moral commitments they imply. This has resulted in trailblazing studies of the political nature of the firm and business ethics as well as highly regarded work on the nature of racial justice and democracy in institutional context. This research has been published in leading business ethics and political science journals, a book with Oxford University Press (The Form of the Firm), and a forthcoming book with University of Chicago Press (Everyone's Business).
Professor Singer has also begun new research projects on meso-level institutions and their relationship to democratic justice, the complicated ethics of free speech, and the normative dimensions of military organization.
Education
- PhD, Political Science, University of Toronto
- MA, Political Science, University of Illinois-Chicago
- BA, Political Science and English, University of Toronto
Research Interests
- Business Ethics
- Normative Political Theory
- Theories of the Firm
- Democratic Theory
- History of Political Thought
- Race and Justice
Professional/Community Affiliations
- Society of Business Ethics
- Association for Political Theory
- American Political Science Association
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Society
Courses Taught
- MGMT 341: Ethics in Business (and Honors)
- MGMT 441: Business Ethics (Graduate)
Publications/Research Listings
A Singer. 2022. “Can the Unfree be held Morally Responsible? A Douglassonian Conception of Freedom and Distributed Moral Agency” American Journal of Political Science. Published online, December 19, 2022.
A Kondo & A Singer. 2020. “Labor without Employment.” American Bar Association Journal of Labor and Employment Law 34 (3): 331-358.
A Singer & Amit Ron. 2020. “Prioritizing Democracy” Business Ethics Quarterly 30 (1): 139-153.
A Singer. 2018. “The Political Nature of the Firm and the Cost of Norms.” Journal of Politics 80 (3): 831-844
Awards
- Finalist, Society for Business Ethics Best Conference Paper Award, 2023
- Winner, Political Research Quarterly Best Article Award, 2018
- Finalist, Business Ethics Quarterly Best Article Award, 2017