Historical-Philosophical Origins of Modern Management Paradigms

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the historical-philosophical origins of management paradigms, a topic of particular relevance amidst the crisis of traditional hierarchical models, which necessitates a profound rethinking of their fundamental principles. The objective of this paper is to systematize the connection between fundamental shifts in philosophical worldview and the evolution of managerial thought. This contribution is achieved through a holistic genealogical analysis, which constructs a unified evolutionary chain of “philosophical idea → management paradigm”, addressing the lack of systemic tracking of these evolutionary links in existing research

The study demonstrates that each dominant paradigm is a direct reflection of the intellectual climate of its era. The research traces the evolutionary path: from the proto-managerial ideas of specialization in antiquity (Plato) and the pragmatic turn of the Renaissance (Machiavelli) to the mechanistic paradigm of the Enlightenment. This paradigm directly engendered the classical school of management (Taylor, Weber), which viewed the organization as a rational, impersonal mechanism. It is shown that the humanistic turn in 20th-century philosophy emerged as a reaction to dehumanization, leading to the perception of the organization as a social system, where interpersonal relationships and group dynamics play a key role. Finally, it is established that modern flexible and network paradigms (Agile) are a practical manifestation of the philosophy of postmodernism, with its skepticism towards grand narratives, ideas of uncertainty, and the deconstruction of hierarchies, which has legitimized the emergence of self-organizing structures.

The scientific novelty of this work lies in its holistic genealogical analysis, which constructs a unified evolutionary chain of "philosophical idea → management paradigm." Its practical significance is that the research findings equip managers with a conceptual framework for critical evaluation, strategic thinking, and the development of more resilient and adaptive organizational models.