Ontology of Transcendent Theosophy and Management and Organization Studies

Management researchers have different ontological assumptions. Critical analysis of these assumptions is necessary. This article discussed the possibility of influencing the ontology of Transcendent Theosophy (al-hikmat al-muta’āliyah) on the fields of organization and management studies. Regarding the being of management, we are faced with two imaginary entities: the being of management, which is an imaginary category, and the addition of this category to duty, responsibility, and authority, which is abstracted from concrete examples of managerial behavior. These categories come into being following expedients that have been discovered by the theoretical wisdom, and to realize it, the practical knowledge along with the will, begins to forge imaginary in the name of management and organization. The requirement of such an imagination is formative intervention from the management position. Management interventions that appear in behaviors and under various concepts are limited and distinct facts. These distinctions go back to the existence of behaviors and, according to mental analysis; they represent two dimensions, fundamental and non-fundamental. Fundamental is the existence of objective behaviors and non-fundamental is the things that cause the formation of distinct concepts of behaviors. Spirituality and stability in religious belief is a way to return to the fundamental fact, which leads to a superior perception and finally a return to the self-high national politics from a philosophical point of view.
Management knowledge is built upon diverse ontological assumptions, necessitating critical examination. This paper investigates the potential influence of transcendent theosophy (al-hikmat al-muta’āliyah) ontology on organizational and management studies.
Issue: The ontology of management deals with two conceptual categories: Management Category: This category is added to the duties, responsibilities, and authorities abstracted from concrete instances of managerial behavior. Organization Category: This category is perceived as a container and context for achieving management goals.
Approach: This paper analyzes the ontology of management based on Transcendent Wisdom. In this regard, concepts such as "interests," "theoretical intellect," "practical intellect," "will," "constitutive interventions," "essence of behaviors," "mental analysis," "authenticity and inauthenticity," "spirituality," and "sustainability" are examined.
Findings: Management and organization categories are conceptual entities constructed in pursuit of interests discovered by the theoretical intellect and aimed at their realization by the practical intellect and will. Managerial interventions, manifested in various behaviors and concepts, represent limited and distinct truths. Distinctions among these truths stem from the essence of behaviors and reflect mental analysis and the differentiation between authentic and inauthentic dimensions. Authenticity pertains to the essence of objective behaviors, while inauthenticity refers to the characteristics that shape distinct conceptualizations of behaviors. Spirituality and sustainability in religious belief provide a path to return to authentic essence and superior perception, ultimately leading to a transcendent political order from a philosophical perspective.
Conclusion: The ontology of transcendent wisdom can enrich the theoretical foundations of management and offer a novel paradigm for Islamic management. According to limitations of positivist ontology, which underpins much of management theory in fully comprehending the nature of behavioral entities, it argues that the perceived constraints and limitations of behavioral entities stem from the limitations of theoretical wisdom that govern practical wisdom and will.
The static and deficient nature of behaviors often portrayed in management theories, from a transcendent ontology perspective, reflects a regression to static and deficient actions in the behavioral interactions of the human soul. This regression, in turn, has implications for the behavioral consequences of these interactions.
The limitations of positivist ontology confine behavioral findings to a horizontal progression, rather than a vertical ascent in the levels of existence. The evolution of management and organizational theories, while incorporating insights from transcendent ontology, remains largely confined to this horizontal progression. From the perspective of transcendent ontology, the powerful, pure, and complete essence of existence is never separated from the seemingly limited and deficient essences. These essences are enveloped and intertwined within that superior and authentic existence. The more attention these essences shift from the deficiencies of their limited level of existence to the superior attributes of higher existence, the more their level of existence intensifies, and they can better represent their true position in existence. Consequently, they become more complete, resolute, and aware expressions of their existence.
Management interventions and behaviors, as manifestations of absolute existence in action, are imbued with life, growth, power, and will. These behavioral attributes enable human beings to progress and develop. Every behavior and intervention, by its existence, exhibits life, power, knowledge, and will. It is an organizational transformation through vertical and horizontal ontological progression. This organizational transformation entails a dual process of progression. Vertical ontological progression upward movement involves transcending the limitations of each level of existence and ascending towards higher levels of intensity, perfection, and completeness. Also horizontal ontological progression entails moving from one veil of existence to another, gradually shedding limitations and gaining deeper insights. Theoretical wisdom plays a crucial role in uncovering this expansive existence, while practical wisdom, guided by will, serves as the driving force for translating theoretical insights into tangible actions. Within this framework, management is viewed not merely as a set of administrative tasks but as a transformative force capable of shaping an organization's trajectory toward its ultimate purpose. Through deliberate interventions and actions, management can guide an organization towards a state of "perfect governance" or "total annihilation”.
As the organization progresses along these paths of transformation, it becomes a manifestation of the Divine Names. These Divine Names represent the attributes and actions of God, such as power, knowledge, life, and will. These attributes, ultimately united under the comprehensive Divine Name "The Living, the Self-Subsisting", become embodied in the organization's functioning and the behaviors of its agents.
The Islamic Management Paradigm, rooted in transcendent ontology, offers a profound perspective on management as a transformative force capable of guiding organizations towards a state of alignment with higher levels of existence and becoming a manifestation of Divine Names. This transformative journey requires a deep understanding of the expansive nature of existence, the interplay between theoretical and practical wisdom, and the conscious pursuit of vertical and horizontal ontological progression.