Abstract
In this article, I develop the idea of the institutional insight as a pathway to two foundational values for applied ethics: human dignity and the common good. I explorebut do not offer a definitive analysis ofthese two values that I believe are critical to the progress of business ethics (indeed to the progress of applied ethics generally). In several previous articles (Goodpaster ), I have alluded to this theme, but here I hope to show that human dignity and the common good underlie both (1) management's fiduciary duty to shareholders, and (2) management's obligations to stakeholders. Indeed, it may be that the frequently observed tension between the latter two normative paradigms can be resolved only by engaging in the comprehensive moral thinking afforded by the institutional insight.