Social Entrepreneurship and Ethics in Times of Polycrisis: Philosophical Metaphors to Interpret the Lived Experience of Changemakers

Dear Colleagues and Students,
You are cordially invited to attend the seminar titled “Social Entrepreneurship and Ethics in Times of Polycrisis: Philosophical Metaphors to Interpret the Lived Experience of Changemakers”. Details are as follows:-
Title |
Social Entrepreneurship and Ethics in Times of Polycrisis: Philosophical Metaphors to Interpret the Lived Experience of Changemakers |
Date |
19 June 2025 (Thursday) |
Time |
11:00 am – 12:00 noon |
Venue |
D3-LP-13 |
Abstract |
In a world marked by cascading crises – from ecological degradation to systemic injustice – social entrepreneurs often find themselves navigating uncertainty, moral complexity, and existential disruption. This lecture draws on the existential philosophies of Albert Camus and Jan Patočka to reinterpret the lived experiences of social enterprise leaders. Through Camus’s notion of revolt and absurdity, and Patočka’s idea of “caring for the soul” and the movements of existence, we explore how social entrepreneurs embody ethical action, solidarity, and resilience without relying on utopian ideals or managerial orthodoxy. Instead, their leadership emerges from crisis as a deeply human response – one that insists on dignity, moral clarity, and community despite ambiguity and constraint. Drawing on original qualitative research across multiple countries, the session offers philosophical metaphors as interpretive tools to reframe social enterprise as not merely a technical or economic solution, but as an ethical practice of meaning-making, responsibility, and relational leadership in the face of absurdity. |
Speaker Bio |
Prof Michal Müller is an Assistant Professor at Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, with dual Ph.D.s in Philosophy and Economic & Managerial Studies. His research explores managerial self-development, social entrepreneurship, and the epistemology of risk, with publications in top journals such as Project Management Journal, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and Philosophy of Management. |
Registration |
For enquiries, please contact us at ssps@eduhk.hk.
Best regards,
Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies
The Education University of Hong Kong