Moral Capital and the Development of Practical Wisdom

This chapter explores the concept of moral capital as a constitutive dimension of organizational value creation. Drawing on Aristotelian virtue ethics, MacIntyre's theory of practices, and related frameworks in virtue jurisprudence, exemplarity, and communitarian thought, it argues that moral capital arises from the cultivation of virtues—such as justice, honesty, and courage—embedded within institutional practices. Through a qualitative case study at the Spanish Judicial School, involving reflective dialogue between judges and inmates, the chapter examines how moral reasoning and lived exemplarity sustain professional integrity and public trust. By linking virtue ethics to organizational learning, legitimacy, and relational transformation, it suggests that moral capital functions both as a source of resilience in crises and as a precondition for sustainable excellence. The chapter concludes by proposing moral capital as a strategic and operational asset that integrates ethical reflection with institutional performance.