A note on absurdism with reference to MBA research projects

A note on absurdism with reference to MBA research projects (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Highlight 8 main ideas underlying Albert Camus' thinking on absurdism and the meaningless world."

The reply: "Albert Camus's absurdism confronts the human quest for meaning against an indifferent universe. Here are eight core ideas distilled from his philosophy, particularly The Myth of Sisyphus.

Core Concepts

• Absurd Confrontation: The absurd arises from the clash between humanity's craving for order, purpose, and clarity and the universe's silent, irrational indifference.

• Suicide as Central Question: Philosophy's fundamental issue is whether life merits living; suicide confesses life's unbearable weight but surrenders to the absurd.

• Rejection of Rational Explanation: Human reason fails to decode existence; universal logic, determinism, or science devolve into abstractions, unable to bridge the absurd gap.

• No Illusions or Leaps: Dismiss "philosophical suicide" via faith, God, or escapism; these evade absurdity rather than face it lucidly.

• Recognition Over Escape: Awareness of absurdity is the first victory; it demands unflinching consciousness without respite or pretense of cosmic meaning.

• Revolt as Response: Defy absurdity through perpetual rebellion—lucid action, passion, and freedom within limits, scorning fate without resignation.

• Sisyphus's Defiance: The mythic figure eternally rolling his boulder embodies revolt; happiness lies in embracing the struggle, mastering one's absurd destiny.

• Human Solidarity and Value: Absurdity unites humanity in shared strangeness; revolt affirms collective existence, ethics, and life's passion despite meaninglessness."

My question 2: "Suggest some intellectual responses from the field of MBA research project to the notion of the meaningless world and absurdism (of Albert Camus), and the things to be theoretical sensitive to in doing MBA dissertation projects."

The reply: "MBA research projects can counter Camus's absurdism—a clash between human desire for meaning and the world's silence—by embracing revolt through persistent managerial action, much like Sisyphus finding defiance in endless effort. Camus's ideas apply to business by framing organizations as "absurd" entities prone to recurring crises, where managers revolt via creativity, solidarity, and rejecting idealistic extremes.

Responses to Absurdism

Camus rejects suicide or faith leaps, advocating revolt: sustained action despite meaninglessness, preserving human life as ethics' core. In MBA contexts, this translates to the "existential manager" who navigates cyclical success-failure cycles, like Sisyphus pushing the boulder, turning crises (e.g., COVID-19 disruptions) into growth via adaptability and solidarity.

• View organizations as absurd: Routine tasks lack deeper purpose, fostering alienation; respond with creativity focused on process, not abstract goals.

• Embrace cyclical crises: Managerial life mirrors Sisyphus—alternating triumphs and setbacks; revolt by hardening resolve and learning from absurdity.

• Prioritize human value: Avoid "philosophical suicide" via utopian ideals; ethics stems from revolt against dehumanizing power.

These frame MBA research as revolt: theorizing lived experiences to humanize business amid chaos.

Theoretical Sensitivities

In MBA dissertations, especially grounded theory approaches, theoretical sensitivity means discerning data patterns without forcing preconceptions, balancing openness with literature-informed insight. Be alert to researcher biases, using memoing and constant comparison to let theory emerge inductively.

 

Aspect	Description	MBA Dissertation Application
Assumptions Awareness	Recognize personal knowledge without imposing it	Avoid forcing leadership theories on HK SME interviews; let employee innovation narratives emerge.
Data Immersion	Build sensitivity via coding/ memoing	Compare interview segments on leadership styles iteratively for core categories like "absurd constraints."
Literature Scaffolding	Use theory selectively to extend concepts	Draw on Camus for "revolt" in crisis management without predetermining findings.
Category Relating	Link concepts systematically	Integrate absurdity motifs with pragmatic MBA frameworks like dynamic capabilities.

 

Prioritize research philosophies (e.g., pragmatism) fitting business problems, ensuring alignment with trends like ethical leadership in absurd markets.

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

 

A note on part-time Housing Studies students' learning with reference to how Leonardo da Vinci learn himself (without school).

A note on part-time Housing Studies students' learning with reference to how Leonardo da Vinci learns himself (without school) (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "Highlight the contemporary part-time Undergraduate Housing Studies students could do their study more effectively with reference to how Leonardo da Vinci learn himself (without school)."

The reply: "Part-time undergraduate Housing Studies students in Hong Kong, often balancing work with evening classes on topics like property management and urban policy, can boost effectiveness by adopting Leonardo da Vinci's self-directed learning principles. Da Vinci, without formal schooling due to his illegitimate birth, mastered fields through relentless observation, experimentation, and note-taking.

Da Vinci's Core Methods

Da Vinci emphasized direct observation of nature, such as dissecting cadavers for anatomy or studying water flow, testing hypotheses against real-world evidence rather than relying on texts alone. He filled over 13,000 notebook pages with sketches, questions, and revisions, revisiting ideas iteratively. Self-teaching languages like Latin in his 40s via deep book analysis further showed his interdisciplinary curiosity.​

Observation in Housing Studies

Visit Hong Kong public housing estates like Fanling or analyze urban sites firsthand to grasp policy impacts, mirroring Da Vinci's nature-watching for physics insights. Sketch floor plans or photograph overcrowding issues during site visits, then hypothesize solutions like sustainable designs and test via simple models.

Note-Taking Systems

Maintain a digital notebook (e.g., Notion or Google Docs, fitting your tech preferences) for Housing Studies notes, including diagrams of housing layouts, policy critiques, and investment angles like property yields. Record questions like "How does North District density affect affordability?" and revisit weekly, just as Da Vinci circled back to refine ideas.​​

Experimentation and Reading

Build prototypes of housing models using affordable materials to experiment with space efficiency, akin to Da Vinci's engineering sketches. Deep-dive into key texts like Vitruvius on architecture while note-taking, applying to Hong Kong contexts such as hostel shortages. Use Pomodoro for focused sessions amid part-time demands."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.