Summary

This editorial provides a framework to study morality and ethical challenges.
This editorial illuminates the contributions of each article in this special issue.
This article outlines ideas for future research.

Contemporary societies and organizations face increasingly complex ethical challenges due to a convergence of global trends and everyday ethical misconduct. This special issue emphasizes the critical importance of research into morality and ethical dilemmas, as such research is essential for informing ethical decision-making in today's rapidly evolving world.

Profound transformations are underway, driven by global trends such as climate change, technological progress, demographic and economic shifts, health and well-being concerns, and evolving social norms (e.g., Dogra et al. 2022; Kaldewey 2018; Kirkegaard et al. 2023; Pfotenhauer, Juhl, and Aarden 2019; Kuhlmann and Rip 2018). Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, are reshaping communication, labor, and access to information, introducing efficiencies while also raising concerns about privacy and equity (Ozmen Garibay et al. 2023). Demographic and economic changes are affecting productivity and creating complex challenges for healthcare, labor markets, and social services, prompting questions about intergenerational equity (e.g., Hopenhayn Neira, and Singhaniat 2022; Marois, Bélanger, and Lutz 2020). Economic disparities, especially in income and wealth distribution, further challenge societal cohesion (Wilkinson & Pickett, 2010). Concurrently, there is a heightened focus on social justice issues, including racial equality, gender rights, and political polarization, which amplify ethical obligations for organizations (e.g., Finkel et al. 2020; White et al., 2019).

Alongside these broad global trends, societies are increasingly scrutinizing “ordinary” ethical challenges as shifts in media attention and social norms bring greater focus to behaviors once overlooked. High-profile cases such as the Volkswagen emissions scandal (Schiermeier 2015), insensitive corporate advertising like H&M's controversial campaign (The Guardian 2018), incidents of employee theft (Campbell and Winterich 2018), and organizational misconduct like Oxfam's sexual exploitation scandal (Scurlock, Dolsak, and Prakash 2020) underscore the urgent need to address ethical misconduct amid evolving social values. As global trends reshape perceptions of these ethical challenges, ongoing debate is crucial to defining “the right thing to do” in a world of increasing complexity.

This special issue explores the morality and ethical challenges confronting organizations and societies today. Our primary goal is to bring together timely, interdisciplinary research that deepens our understanding of the ethical implications of global trends illuminates the ethical challenges organizations face, and examines their responses. By fostering this dialogue, we aim to advance discussions on morality in a world shaped by (a) global trends and (b) everyday ethical challenges. Research on morality provides essential insights to support informed, ethically sound decision-making, contributing to a more compassionate and equitable society.

For research to fully serve society, scholars must actively address these ethical challenges. A meaningful and inclusive discussion on these dimensions of ethics is essential to ensure that approaches to morality reflect values of human dignity, fairness, and sustainability. In doing so, research acknowledges its responsibility in shaping a future grounded in principles that support just and equitable societies.