Title: Absurdism as a fundamental value: Camusian thoughts on moral development in organisations

Authors: Robert J. Blomme

Addresses: Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Straatweg 25, 3621 BG Breukelen, The Netherlands

Abstract: In current society the lives and actions of individuals often unfold in organisational settings. This paper explores the human condition in organisations and the intellectual legacy of Albert Camus (1913–1960). Although considered to be an existentialist, Albert Camus distinguishes himself from other existentialists with his special attention to the individual in a world which cannot be known exactly. Moreover, man is living in a world which has no particular concern for the individual and can be considered absurd. Using these thoughts from his essay the Myth of Sisyphus as a framework to explore acting and living in an organisation and reflecting on this framework, we define three implications for moral development.

Keywords: Albert Camus; existentialism; human condition; Angst; existence; authenticity; absurdism; moral development; morality; organisations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2013.055720

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2013 Vol.7 No.2, pp.116 - 127

Published online: 02 Jan 2014 *

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