Exchange of Goods and the Logic of Gift in Society and in Entrepreneurship – Socio-Ethical Analysis

Abstract

Social life is governed by various rules. Society is a space of relationships, interactions and social relations. Agency individuals implement their own life projects based on the exchange of specific goods and services with other individuals. This also involves entrepreneurship. Society as a space for social exchange is a subject of sociological reflection. The exchange is not based solely on the principles of rationality, proportionality and fairness. The inclusion in the sociological and economics analysis of the principle of exchange of the ethical prism, taking into account the logic of gift and gratuitousness, helps to see its more complementary character and to identify a broader horizon of its accomplishment. In this article, an attempt has been made to approximate such a perspective of interpretation of the phenomenon, taking into account the sociological theory and normative reflection. The subject of the analysis is social exchange, not only in the economic and rational dimension, but also in ethical one. The aim is to try to prove that such a connection enriches economic and social life in theory and practice. The analytical and synthetic method was used, using various documents and studies, as well as our own interpretative (sociological and ethical) intuition. The article can be a stimulus in the design and implementation of economics and social life in their complementary perspective. Representatives of economics and ethics can gain a lot in their research if they create a space for mutual cooperation.