Abstract This article argues that abstract knowledge in
the form of formally developed theory plays an increasingly
important role in the economy and in financial
innovation in particular. Abstract knowledge is easily reified,
and this is an aspect of knowledge work that is
insufficiently researched. In this article, we problematize
reification of abstract knowledge in financial innovation
from wisdom, ethics, and social network analysis perspectives.
This article, therefore, considers the composition
and structures of financial innovation networks that help
avoid reification by building ethicality through social
practice wisdom. Finally, we discuss future directions that
empirical ethics research can take.