Maslow and Occupational and Managerial Virtue?
In Toward a Psychology of Being (1968), Maslow offered a list of (B)eing values - qualities that might be reflected in the behaviour of the "ethical, virtuous person". These values include:
- wholeness (unity, integration, tendency to one-ness, interconnectedness)
- perfection (just-right-ness, suitability, , oughtness)
- completion (fulfillment, finis and telos, destiny)
- justice (fairness, orderliness, lawfulness, ought-to-be-ness)
- aliveness (process, self-regulation, full-functioning)
- richness (differentiation, complexity; intricacy)
- simplicity; (honesty, openness, essentiality)
- beauty (rightness, form, wholeness, perfection, honesty)
- goodness; (rightness, desireability, oughtness, benevolence)
- uniqueness (individuality)
- effortlessness (ease, at-one-ness when striving, graceful functioning)
- playfulness (joy, humour, exuberance)
- truth,honesty, reality (open, clean, unadulterated, essential)
- self-sufficiency (autonomy, independence, self-determining, transcendence, governed by own laws)
Such qualities may be reflected in the person who - in terms of behaviour and personal commitments - is seen as a virtuous, morally oriented person. What is your reaction to this? There seems to be much to live up to for the career business manager!
Assignment
Read and reflect on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and his concept of the self-actualised person.
Compare this ideal model with the Aristotlean human right and obligation vis a vis "a good life" which accommodates both necessary self-interest and altruism towards others.
Compare and contrast the Maslovian view with the more real-politic orientation of Machiavelli.
For further reading try the following WWW links
This resource was written by Chris Jarvis for the BOLA project.