The gap between planetary ethics and agentic capacities in business: accelerating the paradigm shift in the Capitalocene

Marie-Laurence (Mahi) Paquette

doi:10.25918/thesis.248

This thesis is premised on a new planetary consciousness in the age of the Capitalocene. More specifically, it is focussed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the necessity of a paradigm shift away from ‘business as usual’. This research is important as the world is witnessing accelerating changes on several levels now associated with the Anthropocene or Capitalocene. Humanity is being challenged in wide ranging ways including resource availability, globally connected markets, climate change, advanced technologies, opposing debates, financial disparity, and health, social, financial, and environmental crises. This research draws on posthuman, post-structural, and postmodern theories, and the spaces in-between these theoretical positions. In effect, these intra-acting theories operate as a theoretical bridge across major fields of thought. I challenge inquiries on binaries, systemic and organisational structures, and metanarratives. To bring such a research project to existence, a transdisciplinary review of modern concepts of economy, education, and Earth system sciences was critical. Having a transdisciplinary vantage points reveals the identification of sixteen planetary futures (1) expanding on a wide spectrum of future perspectives. A qualitative critical participatory action research methodology was applied with entrepreneurs to facilitate agentic capacities through experiential learning and a pedagogy of wisdom, considering the different planetary futures in implementation across the world. Two phases were implemented, namely: Phase 1 and Phase 2. The intention of the first phase was to garner deeper understandings of ethical perspectives of decision-makers through eighteen individual interviews. The second phase brought together five participants in an immersive two-day retreat experience. Planetary futures were discussed alongside personal and professional values, needs, resources and anticipated actions. Accompanying the process, a set of emerging priorities were labelled and attached to a hand-made four-dimensional planet-shaped skeleton serving as a personal and tangible representation of the Earth, a tool inspired by the Overview Effect. Research findings indicate a gap in the knowledge of decision-makers associated with future scenarios and, more specifically, the implementation of actions to address challenges. A diversified range of perspectives regarding the meaning of ethical business processes, especially when referring to a planetary context, was also identified. The series of methods trialled, including journaling, focus groups (or heartstorms) and arts-based explorations, led to a heightened motivation toward improving accountability by the majority of participants; a trend originally observed after the Phase 1 semi-structured interviews. A common desire expressed was to increase ethical practices on a global scale, with a consensus that there is a large number of business-related challenges to be overcome. The retreat experience was highly appreciated by the participants in stimulating clarity, inspiration, reassessment of priorities, learning, sharing, expansion, and wholesome nourishment. Changes in decision-making are urgently required. The critical transitions ahead require a broader perspective (planetary) in order to be understood, and current SMEs research does not address the problem in this way. Therefore, this thesis contributes with a detailed understanding of the diversity of perspectives about planetary ethics chosen by decision-makers and reflected in their businesses. Two frameworks emerged, the Planetary Ethics Identification Framework and the Planetary Ethics Expansion Framework. Lastly, this research design provides tools to generate wisdom pathways, and identifies the need to bridge disciplines as a literal overarching metaphor and suggesting an all-encompassing learning approach, referred to as pedagogy of the Overview Effect. (1) Sixteen planetary futures: planetary boundaries, circular economy, 6th mass extinction, artificial intelligence (AI) & immortality, 3rd & 4th industrial revolutions, transition towns, ecomodernist manifesto, geoengineering, post-growth & degrowth, universal basic income (UBI), Earth laws & bioregion, mindfulness & consciousness, drawdown project, Doughnut Economics & Earth 3 model, collapsology, terraforming Mars.

The gap between planetary ethics and agentic capacities in business: accelerating the paradigm shift in the Capitalocene

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The gap between planetary ethics and agentic capacities in business: accelerating the paradigm shift in the Capitalocene

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