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1. Philosophy of Management
Fall 2023
Presentation 4
Week-5
Title: The Philosophical Foundation of the Management Thought
Chapter 1, 2 & 3
Ancient Heroism, Greek Rationalism & Italian Renaissance
Presented by: Tayyab Ali Baig

2. Outline
• Overview of the Book
• Chapter 1: Ancient Herosim
• Chapter 2: Greek Rationalism
• Chapter 3: Italian Renaissance

3. Overview of the Book
• The introduction emphasizes the importance of philosophy in
management education
• It states that managers, management students, and management
academics should engage with philosophy
• The book explores important movements in Western thinking and
their manifestations in management theory and practice
• Western philosophy has had a significant influence on what is taught
in management schools, while Eastern philosophy has had limited
influence
• The book includes chapters on ancient, Renaissance, modern, and
contemporary philosophies, as well as philosophy of science,
psychoanalysis, and psychiatry

4. Chapter 1: Ancient Heroism
Basic Premise:
• Explores the concept of Heroism from Homer’s Iliad and its relation to Peter
Drucker’s Management Philosophy.
• Emphasizes the importance of courage, resilience and adherence.
• Examins Drucker’s belief of empowering employees and manager’s moral
responsibility.
• Drucker’s philosophy as re-assembly of European humanistic and American
Entrepreneurial Values.

5. Who is Homer?
• A poet.
• His work “Iliad” is a reference for more than 2800 years.
• The concept of Homeric Man enjoys a significant importance in the
western philosophy.
• His work is consistent with cultures other than Ancient Greece
focusing on nobility, courage while performing tasks and rigid
standards.

6. Homer’s World
• The story of the “siege of troy” is simply putforth in the Iliad.
• After all the wrath, the city stands tall.
• Homer’s style is action oriented rather more abstract.
“The world is limited to what they can observe or infer directly
therefrom”.
“No difference between what is and what seems to be”.
“Homer’s world is made of particulars not universals”.

7. Homer’s Heros
• Glorified and Idealised life over death
• To modern eyes, heros can swim against the tides to defy
expectations
• In Ancient Herosim individuals are defined by,
- Attached Roles and expected performance
- Rules of behavior and rewards
- Intentions and feelings are irrelevant
• Homer’s Hero comply everywhere to heroic code.
• Duties Win, Without them Heros cease to exist.

8. Homer’s Man
• Homer’s Men or Gods are described using directly observable
attributes, rather than physical descriptions.
• Homer's language is devoid of abstractions and focuses on action
words and concrete nouns.
• The worldview depicted in the Iliad is limited to what can be observed
or inferred directly.
• There is no distinction between action and actor in the text, and no
language for choice, intention, and rationality.
• Homer's heroes prioritize immediate performance and do not value
mere trying or failing

9. Ancient Heroism Today
• The concept of ancient heroism still has an impact on modern society,
particularly in settings that value honor and courage
• The relationship between ancient and modern man is more complex
than Marx's view of modernity as a more mature expression of
Western humanity
• The legacy of ancient heroism can still be observed today, but its
influence is not limited to Western thinking.

10. Peter Drucker (1909-2005) - A Management
Writer and Thinker
• His works resonated with the post-World War II era.
• Emphasized the importance of decentralization, privatisation, and the
value of not-for-profit organizations.
• Advocated for measuring organizational activities based on the value
they generate for customers.
• Critics argue that his later books lacked originality and relied on
recycled concepts and examples

11. Peter Drucker (1909-2005) - A Management
Writer and Thinker
• Drucker's Conception of People at Work
- Natural drive for workmanship
- Develop their talents to the fullest
- Employees should be empowered
- Disappointed by bureaucratic managers
• Drucker's Vision of an Ideal Society
- Profit motive should not be the dominant force
- Importance of moral purpose
- Economic elites have moral duties

12. Peter Drucker’s MBO
• MBO emphasizes that managers should focus on what the job demands, rather than personal
relationships or job satisfaction.
• The model suggests that strong performers have the right to be disagreeable and direct their
subordinates to improve their workmanship.
• Managers should assess behavior in terms of effectiveness, not friendliness.
• MBO requires clear objectives that cascade down to all levels of the hierarchy.
• Measurement and control are essential components of MBO, ensuring regular assessments and
accountability.
• The setting of objectives is nonsensical without regular measurements.
• Managers separate planning from performing and transfer responsibility for the organization's
survival to those in charge of defining objectives.
• MBO can lead to short-termism and a focus on narrow-minded or inadequate objectives.
• Drucker's MBO approach can be seen as a transposition of ancient heroism to management,
emphasizing self-control and responsibility.

13. Managing Heroically
• Drucker's professional life was seen as enacted heroism, emphasizing the
importance of roles, performance, and standards
• The West embraced modern heroism at the expense of ancient heroism,
which is a long and fascinating story
• In a heroic setting, rules are not open for discussion, and breaking them
results in instant penalization or dismissal.
• Performance expectations in military or sports environments cannot be
compared to those in heroic societies.
• Managers are required to perform according to defined objectives, even if
they are narrow-minded or inadequate.
• Managing heroically involves accepting roles, enacting them with self-control,
and prioritizing duties over emotions.
• Heroic managers must be prepared to face risks, organizational politics, and
international diplomacy.

14. What Philosophical Foundation Does Peter
Drucker Had in MBO?

15. Chapter 2: Greek Rationalism
• 6th Centuary onwards, the worldview started to change.
• The culture of rigid excellence started to change and philosophy
emerged.
• Plato’s work started giving western thinkers a view to see world as
more stable and intelligible arrangement.
• Parmenides argued that true reality exists beyond the senses and is
accessible through reason and thought.
• Emphisized the importance of intellectual abilities.

16. A World in Transition & Plato’s Form
• Socrates model of indulging in discussion and concluding with a
common understanding generated the philosophy.
• Plato believed that knowledge is about reality
• True knowledge can only be of universals, not of particluars
• Plato’s Form are perfect, unchanging and timeless and understanable
by exercise of Reason
• Two Important Forms by Plato are the Good and the Truth

17. Plato’s Form & The Rule of the Wise
• The higher good is to achieve eudaimonia (a state of flourishing, inner
peace) not just the bodily pleasures.
• Plato's belief in the ideal city-state and the importance of wisdom and
reason in governance
• Rulers of the state should be philosophers who seek truth and
wisdom
• Emphasizes the need for social cohesion and stability

18. The Rule of the Wise
• Plato believes that the city-state is man's natural environment and that the
ideal society is one that makes its citizens perfectly happy.
• Running of the state is a "science" that can be known with certainty and that
actual states should conform to the ideal model.
• Plato criticizes existing political systems, such as timarchy and democracy, and
proposes a three-tiered model of the state with rulers, warriors-auxiliaries,
and the working class.
• He believes that justice and goodness are achieved individually and
collectively, and that the citizens' psyche's parts are in harmony when
society's parts operate harmoniously.
• Emphasizes the importance of moral education and the upbringing of the
Guardians, who are responsible for ruling the state.
• Pursuit of riches is a source of moral and social corruption

19. Leading from the Psyche
• Plato believes that the psyche is composed of three elements:
Reason, Spirit, and Appetite
• Reason is associated with logical thinking and is located in the head
• Spirit is connected to a sense of duty and honor and is found in the
chest
• Appetite represents instincts and desires for material pleasures and is
situated in the lower part of the body

20. Plato’s Legacy
• Plato's philosophy influenced various fields, including rationalism,
moral philosophy, psychology, political philosophy, and ontology
• His ideas about the Forms, the relationship between perception and
knowledge, and the ideal State have shaped the development of
Western thought
• Plato's distinction between opinion and knowledge and his concept of
the Forms have shaped epistemology and metaphysics
• His tripartite model of the psyche laid the foundation for psychology
• Plato's ideas about the ideal State and the role of philosophers as
rulers have influenced political philosophy.

21. Plato, C.E.O
• Plato's belief that myths and moral values, rather than detailed rules,
are effective ways to control individuals within an organization
• He proposed a multi-layered model of society, where rank determines
one's function
• Plato emphasized the importance of education for rulers and
established The Academy as the first management school.

22. Chapter 3: Italian Renaissance (Machiavelli's Teachings)
• The chapter starts with the understanding about relevance of Niccolò
Machiavelli's teachings to managers in large corporations
• Managers must recognize that the office is not a place of trust and
cooperation, but rather a competitive environment where success
and power are essential.
• Authority, expertise, seniority, and experience are resources that
managers should use to further their agenda
• The protection of employees is not based on empathy but on
organizational discipline and performance.
• Friendship in management is incompatible with effectiveness, and
managers should set aside personal feelings.

23. • Managers should surround themselves with a loyal team and be
cautious of ambitious subordinates
• Success is highly valued, and managers should choose battles
carefully and fight to win, regardless of moral costs
• Generosity should be replaced with frugality, as it is more sustainable
in the long run.
• When departments are merged or taken over, employees who resist
change or question authority should be removed.
• Cultural incompatibility in mergers and takeovers should be
addressed swiftly by eliminating one corporate culture.
Chapter 3: Italian Renaissance (Machiavelli's Teachings)

24. Rome and Christianity
• Rome's rise as a political power was accompanied by its dependence
on Greek philosophy
• Rome valued nobility, state power, social stability, courage, discipline,
hierarchy, physical strength, and ardor on the battlefield
• Romans initially considered Christianity a sub-sect of Judaism but
later viewed it as a threat due to Christians' refusal to acknowledge
Rome's traditional gods
• Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, leading
to repressive policies and persecution
• Christianity is a revealed religion focused on faithfulness, forgiveness,
submission, and contempt for earthly possessions

25. Rome and Christianity
• The Church Fathers saw ancient literature, including Greek
philosophy, as compatible with Christian texts
• The fall of the Western Roman Empire marked the end of Antiquity
and the beginning of the Middle Ages

26. Italian Renaissance
• The Italian Renaissance was a period of cultural and intellectual
flourishing in Italy from the 12th to the 17th century
• Saw the rediscovery of ancient texts, the establishment of
universities, and the development of new artistic techniques
• It was a time of great innovation and creativity, with notable figures
such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli

27. MACHIAVELLI’S VIRTU
• The printing press played a significant role in the dissemination of
knowledge during this period
• The Italian Renaissance was marked by advancements in the arts,
including painting, sculpture, and architecture
• The Italian Renaissance is considered a high point in Western
civilization and has had a lasting impact on art, literature, and
philosophy
• Rulers should display virtù to maintain power and gain the admiration
and respect of their subjects

28. MACHIAVELLI’S HERITAGE
• Machiavelli's pragmatic and realistic approach to politics
• Focus on the reunification of Italy and restoration of its status
• Direct and straightforward writing style
• Use of persuasive language and vivid illustrations
• Advocacy for a return to pre-Christian values and traditions

29. MACHIAVELLI’S HERITAGE
• Highlights the similarities between states and corporations in terms of
their organizational structure, competition, and the need for effective
management
• States and corporations share important attributes such as
organizational structure and competition
• Managers must understand power and authority to be successful

30. • The office is not a just place, and managers must come to terms with this reality.
• Legitimacy and success are important for managers to gain power and authority.
• Managers must use their authority and control of resources to further their agenda.
• True protection of employees comes from organizational discipline and performance.
• Machiavelli's teachings can be seen in the actions of influential figures like Vladimir
Putin.
• Machiavelli's message is to look at reality as it is and not entertain delusions.
• Machiavelli's writings helped dissociate knowledge of the world from religion and
contributed to the invention of political science.
MACHIAVELLI in the Executive Suite

31. Thank You !