Public Relations as a Quest for Justice: Resource Dependency, Reputation, and the Philosophy of David Hume

Abstract

Scholars have long posited justice as a core value of public relations. However, that value has been criticized as being improbably idealistic. Philosopher David Hume locates the origins of justice within the need for property and the reliable exchange of resources. Hume thus embeds the origins of justice within a staple of public relations theory: resource dependency theory. Additionally, Hume believes a respect for justice to be the foundation of a positive reputation. This grounding of the quest for justice in resource dependency and reputation helps establish a realistic basis for accepting justice as a core value of public relations.