Reimagining entrepreneurship: A post-individualist philosophical inquiry into identity, ethics, and agency

Ram Paudel; Eneken Titov; Laba Kumar Shrestha

doi:10.55942/ccdj.v3i2.563

Authors

Ram Paudel Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8801-5452
Eneken Titov Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5119-0823
Laba Kumar Shrestha American Managment University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4361-8985

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55942/ccdj.v3i2.563

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, liberal individualism, Post-Individualism, Ethics and Identity

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has always been interpreted as a pattern that presupposes self-autonomy, economic rationality, and market-driven innovation. However, these pillars are eroded by the recent socio-cultural changes which are marked by the increasing collectivism, ethical pluralism, and technologically mediated changes. The current conceptual argument is a reconceptualization of entrepreneurship post-individualism that incorporates elements of existential, communitarian and ethical tradition based on the thinkers like Heidegger, Arendt and Bauman. Being based on philosophical hermeneutics, the paper criticizes liberal individualist model and reorients entrepreneurial identity as a process that occurs as a socially embedded and ethically driven process. Its main themes are how it seems to be a conflict between individuality and normative behavior, the decreasing of authenticity in the entrepreneurial culture, and how networks, technology and collective action are transformative. Through combining the knowledge of sociology, political economy and innovation theory, the paper suggests a comprehensive interpretation of entrepreneurship that put an emphasis on the relevance of significance, relations and the cultural sustainability rather than on the profitability and simple economic production. Entrepreneurship education, policy frameworks and ecosystem design are all implicated and it is argued that approaches that would enhance ethical responsibility, social interdependence, and collaborative agency in the entrepreneurship ecosystem should be encouraged. The piece will also be of use to fledgling interdisciplinary discussions, providing as it does a normative and ontological reconfiguration of entrepreneurship that will be suited to post-modern, digitally networked societies.

Author Biographies

Ram Paudel, Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences

Ram Paudel is a committed academic, community advocate, and experienced project manager with a demonstrated dedication to inclusive education, international student empowerment, and global social development. He is currently pursuing dual doctoral programs: a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at American Management University, Upland, California, and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at International American University, California. His interdisciplinary research spans global business strategy, artificial intelligence-driven human resource innovations, and behavioral trends in real estate investment. He is a recipient of the European Union Dora Plus Grant, and his global engagement has earned him international recognition, including a Guinness World Record title holder, as a participant in the MS-AI Skills Fest 2025, the largest AI skills fest. Ram continues to contribute to the academic community through research, advocacy, and international collaboration focused on the intersection of innovation, education, and social impact.

Eneken Titov, Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences

Professor Eneken Titov is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of management, currently serving as a Professor of Management at the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences (EUAS). In addition to her academic role, she contributes to strategic development in education and innovation as a Member of the Management Board at AS Mainor, a key institution fostering education-industry collaboration in Ülemiste City, Estonia’s leading smart business campus. Professor Titov earned her PhD in Business Administration and Management from Tallinn University of Technology. Her professional expertise spans quality management, leadership, and entrepreneurship education, and she has been widely recognized for her contributions to quality assurance systems across the Baltic region.

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