Sartrean Existentialism and Ethical Decision-Making in Business

Abstract

authenticity, decision-making model, ethical decision-making, existentialism, freedom, Jean-Paul Sartre, moral decision-making, responsibility,

Understanding the Basic Assumptions About Human Nature in Workplace Spirituality

“…Within management studies, existentialism is not treated as a uniform theory but rather as "an eclectic philosophy or a set of attitudes" (Lawler, 2005, p. 216), within which are a series of interwoven and reoccurring themes that include issues of responsibility, meaning, solitude, survival, and death (Pauchant & Morin, 2008;Yue & Mills, 2008). While some authors integrate a combination of existential perspectives, for example (Reedy, 2008), the majority (e.g., Kelly & Kelly, 1998;Macmillan & Mills, 2002;Sandberg & Pinnington, 2009;Wallace, 2009;West, 2008;Yue & Mills, 2008) including ourselves justify a mixture of chosen perspectives solely on its explanatory potential to the particular phenomena that they focus on. In addition to the Sartrean variety of existentialism often used in management theory, we have therefore also chosen to draw on the work of Simone Weil on gravity and grace as this work is explicitly concerned with the spiritual condition of the person.…”

Radical Authentic Leadership: Co-creating the conditions under which all members of the organization can be authentic

“…Existentialism is increasingly utilized within organization studies and has been argued to be particularly useful in integrating the individual and organizational levels of analysis (Pauchant & Morin, 2008). It has shown explanatory potential with regard to a range of themes like leadership (Lawler, 2005); ethical decision making (West, 2007) and professional competence (Sandberg & Pinnington, 2009).…”

“…West (2007) focuses on Sartre, as do Kelly and Kelly (1998) and Yue and Mills (2008); MacMillan (MacMillan, 2006(MacMillan, , 2009MacMillan & Mills, 2002) draws principally on Heidegger, but also on Frankl and Sartre; Sandberg and Pinnington (2009) draw exclusively on Heidegger; Reedy (2008) draws on a combination of Sartre, Heidegger and Ricour and Wallace (2009) centers on the work of de Beauvoir. Thus, within organization studies, existentialism is "an eclectic philosophy or a set of attitudes" (Lawler, 2005, p. 216) which has very diverse roots (Pauchant & Morin, 2008).…”

Toward an Horizon in Design Ethics

“…d 'Anjou (2006'Anjou ( , 2008 explores the relationship between the Sartrean concept of project and design with an ethical emphasis. This can be seen in few professional disciplines like business ethics (West 2008) and medical ethics (Welie 1994), some focusing on very specific Sartrean concepts such as authenticity. 4 There are examples though of works of more general existentialist approach to professional disciplines.…”