We’ve been looking at how various modern professionals look at the questions of how the universe works, what our place is in it, and which elements – physical reality or psychic will – drive which. But this is an ancient question. And the earliest of those who asked it never thought to separate the two realms of investigation.
One of these was a Greek philosopher who argued that there was definitely life after death. In fact, he insisted, it was exactly the same as life before death. No difference at all – mom, dad, the kids, the cat – they’re all there, and everything proceeds as it had previously.
One day as he preached these ideas, he was asked, “If everything’s the same after death as now, why don’t you commit suicide and be done with it?” He didn’t miss a beat. “If everything’s the same,” he replied, “why should I?”
While we continue to pursue the question of what the answers to questions like these – or even just the act of asking them – mean for management, you will want to consider how you would answer such a question. It’s not a superfluous exercise. The state of our knowledge about the universe and our place in it is no less important to all of us than is the nature of corporate enterprise and the role of management in it is to managers.
And yet, stentorian declarations of absolute certainty explode in regular intervals over the the fields of debate for both, pocking them with dangerous obstacles for those of us trying our best to simply make our way through. Indeed, many of us adhere to one or another of these creeds simply to relieve the tension we feel over the unresolved questions, or to give definition to unexplored predispositions to which we are inclined.
But at some point, some one or some thing is going to draw attention to the illogical conclusions that so frequently lie at the end of these blindly followed rhetorical paths. When that happens to you, will you be able to meet it with the presence of mind of our friend the Greek philosopher?
Let’s see how that works out as we proceed. Next, we’ll take a look at how these questions more specifically are asked and answered in management. Then we’ll move on to see how some try to put them together. Please do stay with us!
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Today’s tip: Speaking of presence of mind, please see this WSJ piece about how investors at one company are being worked on by its managers in order to smooth the way toward their paying themselves grand bonuses. Perhaps there will be a difference after death for such as these.
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