ETHICS IN MANAGEMENT

DISCUSSION 2: PHILOSOPHICAL INSPIRATIONS;

ANCIENT GREECE

Tadeusz Oleksyn, 2020

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 QUESTIONS: WHY ANCIENT GREECE?

1. Why did ancient Greece become the cradle of Western civilization,

including philosophy and ethics?

2. Why did ancient Greece create the world's first democratic system?

3. What were the connections between the Athenian democracy and the
sensational development of science and art in this polis?

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 KNOW YOURSELF - WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

► Know yourself - in ancient Greece already said Thales, Pythagoras,

Socrates, Plato (VI - IV centuries BC). This need was so strongly
pointed out for the second time only at the end of the 20th century.

► Why is it so important - for everyone, including managers?

► Why is getting to know yourself a lifetime task?

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 MANAGEMENT BY GREEK VERTUES

► The Greeks discovered virtues at least 25 centuries ago. Soon after, the
sophists began to prepare people for high public posts, developing their
virtues and making it their (sofist’s) profession. There were many takers
who paid well for it.

► Prof. Harris Howard at the end of the twentieth century founded the
Institute for the Development of Managers in Paris, where he mainly
treins them about ancient Greek virtues, to which he added the sixth
virtue – generosity /magnanimity. There are many people willing to
participate in this trainings.

► What are you thinking about this project and this methods of trainings
25 centuries ago and today?
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 (1990s).
(1990s).
FROM ARETE TO VALUE. MANAGEMENT BY VALUES

► Stoics in 5th century BC knew 5 virtues / aretes: wisdom, prudence,

courage, justice, piety. In the 4th century BC, Aristotle wrote about 18
virtues in his work "The Great Ethics".

► Today we talk more about values /aretes ​than about virtues. Hundreds
if not thousands of different values ​are distinguished today.

► Several different methods of value management / management by

values / have been developed. The authors of the first and most
famous are K. Blanchard and M. O'Connor (1990s).

► Question: Such a large number of values ​makes their management

easier or more difficult?

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 SOCRATE'S ETHICAL INTELECTUALLISM
► Socrates (470-399 BC) believed that man is naturally good, and moral
knowledge is natural for him and is in the soul. Evil comes mainly from
ignorance.

► The most important virtue is wisdom. Wisdom is not only knowledge,

but also the willingness and ability to apply it to oneself as well.

► Developing virtues is a lifelong task. Therefore, it is necessary to

constantly consider, discuss and understand better and better the
meaning of such concepts as good, evil, wisdom, courage, justice
moderation.

► Are you agree that man is inherently good, evil comes from ignorance
and the most important virtue is wisdom?
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 PLATON’S ETHICS (427-347 BC)

► As a student of Socrates, he adopted a number of his views: good is

objective, it is written in the human soul and must be explored (which
requires reflection, exercise and effort); evil mainly comes from
ignorance; a good life is a decent life.

 People without intellectual abilities should emulate those who possess

these abilities and be ruled by them. This last thought led Plato a bit
too far - towards the model of a state with totalitarian features .

► Are you thinking, that really people without intellectual and moral
abilities should emulate those who possess these abilities and be ruled
by them?

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 MODERATION IN EVERYTHING
► All Greek philosophers promoted moderation in everything. Poverty
was bad, as was excessive wealth. Virtue was thought to be between
extremes: courage between cowardice and bravado, generosity
between greed and extravagance, etc. Barbarians were considered
barbarians because of their lack of moderation.

► In our time, especially in economics and management, we often prefer

not moderation but maximization or minimization. For example, we
maximize sales and minimize costs or employment.

► Who is right: the ancient Greeks or us? Present your thesis with an
examples.

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 THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS
► It was believed that the proper goul of man's aspirations was to be
happy. A man who lives in harmony with virtues and himself is
naturally happy. If you do not have your natural joy in life, it means
you are doing the wrong things or you are neglecting something
important (Socrates, Aristotle, Epicurus, Aristepus).

► Greek philosophers preferred the pleasures of a spiritual nature. They

believed that they were more stable and led to a balance.

► They believed that the system that gave the most opportunities and
happiness to the greatest number of people was democracy.

► How do you think today?

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 STOICISM
► Stoicism is considered the most influential philosophical and ethical concept of
antiquity - before the advent of Christianity.
► Prominent representatives: founder Zeno of Kition (342-270 BC), Seneca (3 BC
- 65 PC), Epictetus (50 - 130 PC), Marcus Aurelius (121-180 PC).
► The ideal is to live in accordance with nature, the essence of the world and
human reason. Harmony with nature is not about bending the world to your
will, but about your adapting into the world. Respect for nature and its
protection.
► Attention should be focused on those matters and activities that are influenced
by the person. For the rest that is beyond our control, one should adopt an
attitude of passionlessness, gentle resignation, or indifference.
► Be mindful, compassionate, obliging and kind, set a good example for others.
► Stoic philosophy later touched off twice - in the 18th and 20th centuries. It is
also popular today.
► Do you like this philosophy?

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 FINAL QUESTIONS

1. Enter no more than 20 keywords describing the positive features of

ancient Greek philosophy and ethics.

2. Enter no more than 12 keywords describing weakness od philosophy of

ancient Greek philosophy and ethics.

3. Where our times dominate the ethics of ancient Greece?

4. What can we envy ancient philosophers and ethicists?

5. What our managers could take over from the philosophers and
ethicists of Ancient Greece?

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