Abstract

SUAREZ LITVIN, Roldan Tomasz. Concept of the Human Being behind the Fifth Discipline. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.52, pp.621-637. ISSN 1315-9984.

This article presents an inquiry into the concept of a human being promoted by Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline. After a brief summary of its basic principles, the study shows how they point to a type of humanity and a relationship between individual and organizational domains that is inconsistent with modern social thought. Moreover, it shows that this non-modern concept of a human being has certain similarities to the concept belonging to ancient Greek culture, as expressed in Aristotle´s thought. In contrast to this first interpretive hypothesis, a second is articulated based on Heidegger’s work concerning modern technology. According to this second interpretation, Senge’s concept of a human being is nothing more than a powerful reduction of human beings to mere devices in the service of organizations. Finally, a possible path for debate between the two interpretive hypotheses is envisaged.

Keywords : Fifth discipline; modernity; antiquity; concept of a human being.