April-December 2025, in Stockholm, Sweden and in Copenhagen, Denmark
The purpose of the course is to explain and practice philosophical underpinnings of management and organizational studies. Besides epistemological considerations (how to produce knowledge) we will consider ontological aspects (what there IS to be known). We will explore the differences between “epistemology” and “ontology” and illustrate this by actual philosophical debates in social science.
In block 1, we will investigate so called “battles on reality” (the use of “hermeneutical approaches” for interpreting the world), in block 2 we will introduce new philosophies of institution exemplified by “new Hegelian approaches to corporations” and in block 3 we will introduce recent ideas on “social ontologies”. Focus will be on digesting, analyzing, and discussing the three philosophical perspectives in question, and its implications for contemporary social science research.
Course Leader and Responsible University:
Pierre Guillet de Monthoux, Department of Management and Organization, Stockholm School of Economics
Course Instructors:
- Bengt Kristensson Uggla, Professor of Philosophy, Culture, and Management at Abo Akademi University in Turku
- Morten Sörensen Thaning, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Copenhagen Business School
- Marius Gudmand Hoyer, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Copenhagen Business School
- Rasmus Johnsen, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Copenhagen Business School
- Rasmus Nykvist, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Organization, Linköping University
- Åsa Burman, Associate Professor in Practical Philosophy, Stockholm University
Course Structure and Dates:
The course will consist of three physical meetings: Block 1, 23-25 April, 2025 (in Stockholm); Block 2, late August or early September 2025 (Copenhagen); and Block 3, 19-21 November, 2025 (Stockholm).
Eligibility:
The course is open to PhD students in business administration and related fields. Priority will be given to students from the Stockholm School of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, and NFF member schools, but other students can also be accepted if possible.
Application:
To register, please submit your application no later than March 1, 2025 by e-mail to Guillet de Monthoux, Pierre.
Please include your home institution, what PhD program you are enrolled in, as well as your academic CV in the application. As the course will stage philosophical discussion around truth, ontology, and MOS we would like you to attach a short motivation letter (about half a page) answering the following questions:
- Expected learnings: How does this course seem to fit your PhD process?
- Expected contributions: What perspectives and/or problems would you like to share with participants?
- Expected focus: Tell us which part of the course you mostly fancy and why?
