Business

This paper was presented at the 7th Transatlantic Conference on “The Ethics of Business, Trade, & Global Governance” - Geopolitics and the Ethics of Finance and Trade, held at Stift Klosterneuburg, Austria, January 9-10, 2025. 📄 Download PDF Abstract Economic sanctions are often imposed on governments as a tool to change their behavior, typically in response to human rights violations, support for terrorism, or military aggression. When applied broadly, these sanctions affect the entire economy, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and the general population. SMEs account for about 90% of businesses and provide over 50% of jobs worldwide (World Bank). ...

The following is a snippet from my book Philosophy for Business Leaders. I never really wanted to study philosophy. In fact, the idea never crossed my mind. At college, after dabbling with a variety of courses that included calculus, organic chemistry, biology, economics, and finance, I decided I wanted to understand what a stock was and the underpinnings of the financial world. I was mesmerized by all the numbers displayed on big screens, sometimes with weird candle-like figures, squeezed between lines on either side and numbers flaring in red and green every other second. ...

This article is an excerpt from my book Philosophy for Business Leaders: Asking Questions, Navigating Uncertainty, and the Quest for Meaning. I once moderated an online session that revolved around discussions about personal finance, investments, and entrepreneurship. During the session, I asked the guest a question that sparked concerns about the importance of ethics in the business world. The guest, wearing a smile, along with many attendees—most of whom were bankers and professionals—agreed that as long as actions are legal and compliant, there is no problem. ...

Why we prefer the status quo, even when change is necessary In Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, the Ranevsky family is at risk of losing their estate and wealth. Mounting debt, mismanagement, and bad luck have left them in a precarious position. At the center of it all is the family’s cherished orchard tree, a living symbol of their legacy, standing tall through generations. Lopakhin, a self-made merchant, offers a practical solution: cut down the tree, build cabins, and rent them out. With some initial investment, this could potentially generate enough cash flow to pay off their debts and save the estate, preserving their wealth and legacy. ...

From Abstraction to Understanding Over the past year I’ve been learning how to code. I didn’t start with a grand plan, but just wanted to explore something new. I took a deep dive into Python and picked up the Django framework that makes it easier to build websites and applications. Coming from a philosophy background, I noticed that my approach to the learning process was anchored in the conceptual foundation I had acquired during years of philosophical training. ...