Meta: Research in Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, and Practical Philosophy, 2024
This study presents a philosophy of attention that promotes authentic
performance. As described h... more This study presents a philosophy of attention that promotes authentic performance. As described here, attention is about training outgoing and ingoing attention skills, which can ultimately connect an individual to others and the world. This ability can help the individual remain focused and receptive to what happens while at the same time accepting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The ability to pay attention is crucial to performing and living authentically, regardless of the person's area of expertise. The philosophy of attention presented here is rooted in existential philosophy, flow psychology, mindfulness, and acceptance-based psychology. It aims to help individuals and organizations examine what they can do and how they can actualize their potential more freely and with greater clarity. This results in better performance and increased existential meaningfulness and joy, leading to a more dignified life.
The writer and philosopher Albert Camus was known for his existentialist essays, novels, and love... more The writer and philosopher Albert Camus was known for his existentialist essays, novels, and love of football. Every intellectually curious football fan is probably grateful for this. I know I am. In this essay, I argue that Camus’s love for football corresponds to his existentialist love for living joyfully and free.
In this paper, I would argue for a mindful sports philosophy that stresses that wisdom does not e... more In this paper, I would argue for a mindful sports philosophy that stresses that wisdom does not emerge from abstract thinking; instead, it requires that we become attentive to what is concrete: our everyday life and how we spend it. Do we spend our life wisely or not? Answering this question requires that we know ourselves suffi ciently-that is to say, have we explored and examined our own life by paying attention to it while we are living it? Am I aware of how my life constantly intervenes with life in general and vice versa? To exemplify this philosophical approach, I will refer to examples from modern football coaching that illustrate how they play themselves and their team into certain thoughts, not the other way around. However, a crucialю part of coaching and leading in sports relies on self-knowledge, not as something that only emerges from the inside out but equally from how the outside aff ects us. In this paper, I will argue how a mindful sports philosophy understands self-knowledge as both an introspection and "interiosation" of the outside with the quest of becoming worthy of what happens.
The concept of "the body without organs" takes up a great part of the oeuvre of Deleuze and Guatt... more The concept of "the body without organs" takes up a great part of the oeuvre of Deleuze and Guattari. Yet, it is difficult to answer their question-"How do you make yourself a body without organs?"-or to understand their answer. In this paper I propose that the body without organs is an ethical concept. To support this assertion, I relate, especially, Deleuze's thought on the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård's autofictive project, My Struggle, suggesting that My Struggle can be read as a body without organs. By doing so, I aim at two things: first, to illustrate a possible application of Deleuze's ethic, and second, to show how such an ethic may guide us regarding what we ought to do.
This work is guided by two hypotheses with one overall objective of establishing an ethics of min... more This work is guided by two hypotheses with one overall objective of establishing an ethics of mindfulness . The first hypothesis is the concept of moral motivator or intentional moral. Both Western philosophy and mindfulness operate with an intention influenced by their moral beliefs. The second hypothesis is the relationship between moral reasoning and wisdom. That is, our reasoning is affected by our moral belief. To combine those two theses, I introduce the concept compassion from mindfulness and the ethics based on the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Hereby, I suggest that by practicing mindfulness, one can develop his or her capacity for compassion, but also – this practice – is a «way of life» that can help protect the planet: an ethical practice .
This essay circles around two ideas. First, I try to answer the ethical question " What is the ri... more This essay circles around two ideas. First, I try to answer the ethical question " What is the right thing to do? " through the application of the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze's affirmative philosophy. Second, I relate Deleuze's philosophy to mindfulness. I do not wish to suggest that they are identical. They are not. Yet, mixing mindfulness with Deleuze leads to a philosophy of mindfulness. That is a philosophy that makes us less blind to our experiences, but also ethically responsible for what actually happens. Hereby, I move mindfulness from the sphere of psychology into philosophy, or from being primarily a practice of turning inward to one of turning outward, but also make Deleuze's ethic more operational. The latter I will – briefly – illustrate by touching on elements of feminism. Once one has to invent new concepts for unknown lands, then methods and moral systems break down and thinking becomes, as Foucault puts it, a 'perilous act,' a violence whose first victim is oneself. — Gilles Deleuze, Negotiations.
This paper argues that the affirmative philosophy of Gilles Deleuze opens for a generous ethic. S... more This paper argues that the affirmative philosophy of Gilles Deleuze opens for a generous ethic. Such ethic passes on new or different possibilities of life. The paper briefly outlines the basic ideas in Deleuze thinking that can be understood as generous. Then it suggests how paying attention is a prerequisite for practicing a generous ethics, that is, mainly being aware of what, how and why something happens. Finally, it exemplifies how—referring to Christopher Nolan’s film Inception—we may practice a generous ethic.
The American cyclist Lance Armstrong, I propose, overcame a threatening death sentence through hi... more The American cyclist Lance Armstrong, I propose, overcame a threatening death sentence through his strength of will, not necessarily his strength of character the latter idealized by Aristotle (2004) in his Ethics. It was Armstrong's will to survive that made him one of the most celebrated and loved athletes in recent times. He won the Tour de France seven times. He became the achiever per se in today's achievement society that was already emerging in 90's.
The aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for an immanent ethics for business. The pa... more The aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for an immanent ethics for business. The paper has three parts. In the first part, I make some general and critical comments about the nature of business ethics. In the second part, I outline the immanent ethics as presented by the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Then, I positioning immanent ethics within business, primarily in relation to the terms "best practice" and "best fit." The main claim here is that an immanent ethics encourages a shift from a merely reactive approach toward an active. This shift opens up the field for an affirmative practice that aims at enlarging the discussion within business ethics as such.
The aim of this essay is two-sided. The first is to illustrate to what extent philosophy can cont... more The aim of this essay is two-sided. The first is to illustrate to what extent philosophy can contribute to our everyday living. The second is to illustrate how. The implicit thesis that I try to unfold in this experimental essay is that these two sides—what and how—constantly intermingle. Although the philosophical approach takes its inspiration from the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Michel Serres, as well as from modern secular mindfulness, the main consideration in any philosophy that contributes to our life must be the coherency of our approach to life. Philosophy is a way of relating to life, which, among other things, requires awareness. This essay, therefore, does not present a single way of living that is beneficial but instead advocates a form of life that is philosophical.
This essay has two parts. The first part gives a brief overview of the foundations of economics. ... more This essay has two parts. The first part gives a brief overview of the foundations of economics. The second part contains a broader outline of the way in which philosopher Gilles Deleuze thinks of ethics. In the second part, I also explore the potential connections between Deleuze's thoughts and economics. Especially, I focus on the concepts of "human capital," "empowerment," and more fruitful, the concept of "power-with" as proposed by organizational theorist, Mary Parker Follett. By doing so, I try to minimize the gap between economics and ethics as presented here. Finally, I determine whether it is possible to do business with Deleuze.
Change has traditionally been perceived as something to be avoided in favor of stability. This ca... more Change has traditionally been perceived as something to be avoided in favor of stability. This can be witnessed in both individual and organizational approaches to change. In this paper, change as a process of becoming is analyzed. The author relates change to seduction to introduce new perspectives to the concept. The principal idea is that the process of change is a seductive experience. This assumption highlights the positive aspects of becoming, growing, and changing. In doing so, reference is made to the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze, as well as the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers, to analyze seduction, as presented in The Seducer’s Diary by the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The qualification of this claim is based on this reading. Finally, a conclusion is offered through brief comments on the relationship between seduction, personal growth, and self-actualization.
Essay written for Jeppe Hein's exhibition "All We Need Is Inside", at 303 Gallery, New York, US, ... more Essay written for Jeppe Hein's exhibition "All We Need Is Inside", at 303 Gallery, New York, US, April 2015.
The aim of this paper is to raise two questions. The first question is: How is pessimism related ... more The aim of this paper is to raise two questions. The first question is: How is pessimism related to Buddhism (and vice versa)? The second question is: What relation does an immanent philosophy have to pessimism and Buddhism, if any? Using True Detective, an American television crime drama, as my point of departure, first I will outline some of the likenesses between Buddhism and pessimism. At the same time, I will show how the conduct of one of the main characters in True Detective resembles the paths of Buddhism and pessimism, even though he is ethical in a strictly non-pessimistic and non-Buddhist fashion. Last, I will try to place these findings in perspective through the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s thoughts. Hereby, I hope to illustrate that joy, not suffering, is basic to human existence, and how human beings may overcome a spiritual pessimism.
In the late spring of 2014, I left my home in Barcelona to walk in Norway for twenty days with my... more In the late spring of 2014, I left my home in Barcelona to walk in Norway for twenty days with my friend Jeppe. We walked the last 300 kilometers of the pilgrim path to Trondheim, St. Olav’s Way, named after the Norwegian king who brought Christianity to Norway in AD 1033.
During those days, I experienced silence as healing moments of selfless union with the world.
This essay was published as part of Jeppe Hein's exhibition "Stillhet", Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014.
This paper proposes an alternative approach towards ethical leadership. Recent research tells us ... more This paper proposes an alternative approach towards ethical leadership. Recent research tells us that socioeconomic and cultural differences affect moral intuition, making it difficult to locate a guiding organizational principle. Nevertheless, in this paper I attempt to open an alternative path towards an ethics that might serve as a guide for leaders – especially leaders who are leading a highly professionalized workforce. Using the Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño and the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze as points of reference, I develop an ethical form of leadership that is based on a continuous ‘poetic’ dialogue between creation and affirmation. The nature of this dialogue requires a leadership approach that plays both a courageous and imaginative role in liberating its workforce. Last, I develop a frame which provides the constituent principles of leading in the direction of an ethical organization.
Meta: Research in Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, and Practical Philosophy, 2024
This study presents a philosophy of attention that promotes authentic
performance. As described h... more This study presents a philosophy of attention that promotes authentic performance. As described here, attention is about training outgoing and ingoing attention skills, which can ultimately connect an individual to others and the world. This ability can help the individual remain focused and receptive to what happens while at the same time accepting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The ability to pay attention is crucial to performing and living authentically, regardless of the person's area of expertise. The philosophy of attention presented here is rooted in existential philosophy, flow psychology, mindfulness, and acceptance-based psychology. It aims to help individuals and organizations examine what they can do and how they can actualize their potential more freely and with greater clarity. This results in better performance and increased existential meaningfulness and joy, leading to a more dignified life.
The writer and philosopher Albert Camus was known for his existentialist essays, novels, and love... more The writer and philosopher Albert Camus was known for his existentialist essays, novels, and love of football. Every intellectually curious football fan is probably grateful for this. I know I am. In this essay, I argue that Camus’s love for football corresponds to his existentialist love for living joyfully and free.
In this paper, I would argue for a mindful sports philosophy that stresses that wisdom does not e... more In this paper, I would argue for a mindful sports philosophy that stresses that wisdom does not emerge from abstract thinking; instead, it requires that we become attentive to what is concrete: our everyday life and how we spend it. Do we spend our life wisely or not? Answering this question requires that we know ourselves suffi ciently-that is to say, have we explored and examined our own life by paying attention to it while we are living it? Am I aware of how my life constantly intervenes with life in general and vice versa? To exemplify this philosophical approach, I will refer to examples from modern football coaching that illustrate how they play themselves and their team into certain thoughts, not the other way around. However, a crucialю part of coaching and leading in sports relies on self-knowledge, not as something that only emerges from the inside out but equally from how the outside aff ects us. In this paper, I will argue how a mindful sports philosophy understands self-knowledge as both an introspection and "interiosation" of the outside with the quest of becoming worthy of what happens.
The concept of "the body without organs" takes up a great part of the oeuvre of Deleuze and Guatt... more The concept of "the body without organs" takes up a great part of the oeuvre of Deleuze and Guattari. Yet, it is difficult to answer their question-"How do you make yourself a body without organs?"-or to understand their answer. In this paper I propose that the body without organs is an ethical concept. To support this assertion, I relate, especially, Deleuze's thought on the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård's autofictive project, My Struggle, suggesting that My Struggle can be read as a body without organs. By doing so, I aim at two things: first, to illustrate a possible application of Deleuze's ethic, and second, to show how such an ethic may guide us regarding what we ought to do.
This work is guided by two hypotheses with one overall objective of establishing an ethics of min... more This work is guided by two hypotheses with one overall objective of establishing an ethics of mindfulness . The first hypothesis is the concept of moral motivator or intentional moral. Both Western philosophy and mindfulness operate with an intention influenced by their moral beliefs. The second hypothesis is the relationship between moral reasoning and wisdom. That is, our reasoning is affected by our moral belief. To combine those two theses, I introduce the concept compassion from mindfulness and the ethics based on the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Hereby, I suggest that by practicing mindfulness, one can develop his or her capacity for compassion, but also – this practice – is a «way of life» that can help protect the planet: an ethical practice .
This essay circles around two ideas. First, I try to answer the ethical question " What is the ri... more This essay circles around two ideas. First, I try to answer the ethical question " What is the right thing to do? " through the application of the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze's affirmative philosophy. Second, I relate Deleuze's philosophy to mindfulness. I do not wish to suggest that they are identical. They are not. Yet, mixing mindfulness with Deleuze leads to a philosophy of mindfulness. That is a philosophy that makes us less blind to our experiences, but also ethically responsible for what actually happens. Hereby, I move mindfulness from the sphere of psychology into philosophy, or from being primarily a practice of turning inward to one of turning outward, but also make Deleuze's ethic more operational. The latter I will – briefly – illustrate by touching on elements of feminism. Once one has to invent new concepts for unknown lands, then methods and moral systems break down and thinking becomes, as Foucault puts it, a 'perilous act,' a violence whose first victim is oneself. — Gilles Deleuze, Negotiations.
This paper argues that the affirmative philosophy of Gilles Deleuze opens for a generous ethic. S... more This paper argues that the affirmative philosophy of Gilles Deleuze opens for a generous ethic. Such ethic passes on new or different possibilities of life. The paper briefly outlines the basic ideas in Deleuze thinking that can be understood as generous. Then it suggests how paying attention is a prerequisite for practicing a generous ethics, that is, mainly being aware of what, how and why something happens. Finally, it exemplifies how—referring to Christopher Nolan’s film Inception—we may practice a generous ethic.
The American cyclist Lance Armstrong, I propose, overcame a threatening death sentence through hi... more The American cyclist Lance Armstrong, I propose, overcame a threatening death sentence through his strength of will, not necessarily his strength of character the latter idealized by Aristotle (2004) in his Ethics. It was Armstrong's will to survive that made him one of the most celebrated and loved athletes in recent times. He won the Tour de France seven times. He became the achiever per se in today's achievement society that was already emerging in 90's.
The aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for an immanent ethics for business. The pa... more The aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for an immanent ethics for business. The paper has three parts. In the first part, I make some general and critical comments about the nature of business ethics. In the second part, I outline the immanent ethics as presented by the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Then, I positioning immanent ethics within business, primarily in relation to the terms "best practice" and "best fit." The main claim here is that an immanent ethics encourages a shift from a merely reactive approach toward an active. This shift opens up the field for an affirmative practice that aims at enlarging the discussion within business ethics as such.
The aim of this essay is two-sided. The first is to illustrate to what extent philosophy can cont... more The aim of this essay is two-sided. The first is to illustrate to what extent philosophy can contribute to our everyday living. The second is to illustrate how. The implicit thesis that I try to unfold in this experimental essay is that these two sides—what and how—constantly intermingle. Although the philosophical approach takes its inspiration from the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Michel Serres, as well as from modern secular mindfulness, the main consideration in any philosophy that contributes to our life must be the coherency of our approach to life. Philosophy is a way of relating to life, which, among other things, requires awareness. This essay, therefore, does not present a single way of living that is beneficial but instead advocates a form of life that is philosophical.
This essay has two parts. The first part gives a brief overview of the foundations of economics. ... more This essay has two parts. The first part gives a brief overview of the foundations of economics. The second part contains a broader outline of the way in which philosopher Gilles Deleuze thinks of ethics. In the second part, I also explore the potential connections between Deleuze's thoughts and economics. Especially, I focus on the concepts of "human capital," "empowerment," and more fruitful, the concept of "power-with" as proposed by organizational theorist, Mary Parker Follett. By doing so, I try to minimize the gap between economics and ethics as presented here. Finally, I determine whether it is possible to do business with Deleuze.
Change has traditionally been perceived as something to be avoided in favor of stability. This ca... more Change has traditionally been perceived as something to be avoided in favor of stability. This can be witnessed in both individual and organizational approaches to change. In this paper, change as a process of becoming is analyzed. The author relates change to seduction to introduce new perspectives to the concept. The principal idea is that the process of change is a seductive experience. This assumption highlights the positive aspects of becoming, growing, and changing. In doing so, reference is made to the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze, as well as the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers, to analyze seduction, as presented in The Seducer’s Diary by the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The qualification of this claim is based on this reading. Finally, a conclusion is offered through brief comments on the relationship between seduction, personal growth, and self-actualization.
Essay written for Jeppe Hein's exhibition "All We Need Is Inside", at 303 Gallery, New York, US, ... more Essay written for Jeppe Hein's exhibition "All We Need Is Inside", at 303 Gallery, New York, US, April 2015.
The aim of this paper is to raise two questions. The first question is: How is pessimism related ... more The aim of this paper is to raise two questions. The first question is: How is pessimism related to Buddhism (and vice versa)? The second question is: What relation does an immanent philosophy have to pessimism and Buddhism, if any? Using True Detective, an American television crime drama, as my point of departure, first I will outline some of the likenesses between Buddhism and pessimism. At the same time, I will show how the conduct of one of the main characters in True Detective resembles the paths of Buddhism and pessimism, even though he is ethical in a strictly non-pessimistic and non-Buddhist fashion. Last, I will try to place these findings in perspective through the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s thoughts. Hereby, I hope to illustrate that joy, not suffering, is basic to human existence, and how human beings may overcome a spiritual pessimism.
In the late spring of 2014, I left my home in Barcelona to walk in Norway for twenty days with my... more In the late spring of 2014, I left my home in Barcelona to walk in Norway for twenty days with my friend Jeppe. We walked the last 300 kilometers of the pilgrim path to Trondheim, St. Olav’s Way, named after the Norwegian king who brought Christianity to Norway in AD 1033.
During those days, I experienced silence as healing moments of selfless union with the world.
This essay was published as part of Jeppe Hein's exhibition "Stillhet", Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014.
This paper proposes an alternative approach towards ethical leadership. Recent research tells us ... more This paper proposes an alternative approach towards ethical leadership. Recent research tells us that socioeconomic and cultural differences affect moral intuition, making it difficult to locate a guiding organizational principle. Nevertheless, in this paper I attempt to open an alternative path towards an ethics that might serve as a guide for leaders – especially leaders who are leading a highly professionalized workforce. Using the Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño and the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze as points of reference, I develop an ethical form of leadership that is based on a continuous ‘poetic’ dialogue between creation and affirmation. The nature of this dialogue requires a leadership approach that plays both a courageous and imaginative role in liberating its workforce. Last, I develop a frame which provides the constituent principles of leading in the direction of an ethical organization.
The Illusion of Transparency in Corporate Governance, 2020
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
In A Philosophy of Mindfulness: A Journey with Deleuze, the writer and philosopher Finn Janning a... more In A Philosophy of Mindfulness: A Journey with Deleuze, the writer and philosopher Finn Janning argues that we need a "new" philosophy because we-many of us, at least-are blind. We see rather little of that which surrounds us.
How does an organization retain and recruit its workforce? How does an organization produce a hig... more How does an organization retain and recruit its workforce? How does an organization produce a high level of creativity and innovation? According to Finn Janning, the answers can be found in the trilogy “The Seducer, The Conqueror and The Discoverer” by the Norwegian author Jan Kjærstad.With the inspiration of Gilles Deleuze and Michel Serres, the book revitalizes the field of Human Resource Management, and presents new forms of organizing. Furthermore, Finn Janning offers some new perspectives to the area of coaching by developing a philosophical approach named affirmative coaching.
La conferencia «Kierkegaard y el concepto del amor como fuerza política», de Finn Janning, se pre... more La conferencia «Kierkegaard y el concepto del amor como fuerza política», de Finn Janning, se presentó el día martes 10 de diciembre de 2019 en el Salón de Honor de la Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Sede Ecuador, en Quito.
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Papers by Finn Janning
performance. As described here, attention is about training outgoing and
ingoing attention skills, which can ultimately connect an individual to others
and the world. This ability can help the individual remain focused and
receptive to what happens while at the same time accepting their thoughts,
feelings, and experiences. The ability to pay attention is crucial to performing
and living authentically, regardless of the person's area of expertise. The
philosophy of attention presented here is rooted in existential philosophy,
flow psychology, mindfulness, and acceptance-based psychology. It aims to
help individuals and organizations examine what they can do and how they
can actualize their potential more freely and with greater clarity. This results
in better performance and increased existential meaningfulness and joy,
leading to a more dignified life.
During those days, I experienced silence as healing moments of selfless union with the world.
This essay was published as part of Jeppe Hein's exhibition "Stillhet", Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014.
performance. As described here, attention is about training outgoing and
ingoing attention skills, which can ultimately connect an individual to others
and the world. This ability can help the individual remain focused and
receptive to what happens while at the same time accepting their thoughts,
feelings, and experiences. The ability to pay attention is crucial to performing
and living authentically, regardless of the person's area of expertise. The
philosophy of attention presented here is rooted in existential philosophy,
flow psychology, mindfulness, and acceptance-based psychology. It aims to
help individuals and organizations examine what they can do and how they
can actualize their potential more freely and with greater clarity. This results
in better performance and increased existential meaningfulness and joy,
leading to a more dignified life.
During those days, I experienced silence as healing moments of selfless union with the world.
This essay was published as part of Jeppe Hein's exhibition "Stillhet", Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014.