Nathan the Wise: Addressing Enlightenment, Wisdom, and Tolerance

Johannes Brinkmann

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Nathan the Wise: Addressing Enlightenment, Wisdom, and Tolerance

Johannes Brinkmann

BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

Volume 14: 2017, pp. 179-198: ABSTRACT

The paper starts with a brief introduction, about teaching business ethics, by using theatre plays and literature in general, and about the selection of this play by Lessing in particular (published in German 1779; first performed 1783). Next follows a summary presentation of the play, its most critical scenes, roles and ingredients. As an open ending to this presentation (which includes further references to available texts and videos in English, German, and other languages), a number of questions are formulated which can be used for triggering and structuring student discussion and student papers (e.g. about lowering inter-religious and inter-cultural prejudice, and/or about putting enlightenment, wisdom and tolerance on the business ethics teaching agenda). Then the paper offers short answers to each of these questions (e.g. as a preparation for potential instructors).