Existentialism is a Corporatism: The Ethical Implications of Existential Freedom at the Individual and Corporate Level
Abstract
Traditionally, existential concepts have pertained only to the individual. This paper aims to integrate Sartre’s ideas on existential freedom to the corporate world. The paper begins by defining and outlining the limitations of Sartre’s main theory in “Existentialism is a Humanism” that existence precedes essence. The paper uses this foundation to consider how the same definitions and restrictions would apply to corporations using entertainment as an example with Blockbuster, Netflix, and the SAG strike. Ultimately, the paper aims to demonstrate the ways in which existential freedom can enable a company to grow and maintain its power in the face of change, while also highlighting where this freedom must be restricted to maximize not just the company’s but workers’ well-being.
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