Abstract

VAN DER LINDE, Tjaart Nicholaas. What is critical in critical management studies?. Acta Commer. [online]. 2016, vol.16, n.2, pp.31-58. ISSN 1684-1999.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ac.v16i2.424.

Critical theory and critical management studies entail a critique against the prevailing social order and management. This critique is based on the 'sensible' world - that world that we perceive through our senses - and the assumption of a rational human being. This critique is questionable as it ignores human nature, which belongs to the non-sensible and metaphysical world. The impact of management thinking on society and nature is based on the sensible world that results in the exploitation of humans and nature. The only way to change this impact is not by 'creative' or 'new' thinking but by understanding human nature that drives this behaviour. To investigate the causes of this exploitation, we need to look at human nature. The discussion starts with the Cartesian enlightenment that separates mind from body (res cogitans and res extenza). This separation created modern rational humanity that is in continuous contradiction with itself and divorced from the natural and cosmic order, a divorce which resulted in humanity becoming one-dimensional. This divorce was further entrenched by Adam Smith who broke up the value creation process into activities. A blacksmith became a welder, and according to Marx, the labour of the labourer became a commodity. This divorce between mind and body, between the labourer and the fruits of labour, between human and nature is a critical issue that is ignored by the critique of any social order. To align mind and body, to reconcile humans and nature, we need to turn back to ancient Greek philosophy and the concepts of telos, práxis and phrónêsis. The doing then becomes more important than the thinking.

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