Social Entrepreneurship as a Family Resemblance Concept with Distinct Ethical Views

Abstract Almost 25 years after Dees’ article on the meaning of social entrepreneurship, conceptual controversy persists. Based a qualitative analysis 209 definitions entrepreneurship and respective academic articles, we argue that concept follows family resemblance structure identify 12 distinct attributes comprehensively define it. Membership in is not defined by case possessing universally accepted set criterial features but carrying shared with other cases. The points to persistent fallacy using same term label different phenomena cautions researchers against causal homogeneity assumptions among subtypes. Assuming descriptive stance, shed light how ethical positions relate entrepreneurship. Among existing variety, four prominent subtypes find ‘market-based’ conceptualizations economism , ‘social business’ subtype relates rule utilitarian positions, ‘efficiency-driven’ are associated hedonistic act views, ‘transformational impact’ akin eudemonic stance.