Self-transcendence and meaningful work

TY - CHAP

T1 - Self-transcendence and meaningful work

AU - Madden, Adrian

AU - Bailey, Catherine

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Oxford University Press 2019.

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Self-transcendence is a concept often evoked in different approaches to meaningful work, but which lacks clarity. This chapter considers how the subjective experience of meaningful work, centering on significance and purpose, gives rise to the idea of meaningfulness as the realization of human potential, by connecting the inner and the outer life along spiritual and social dimensions. It points to a conceptualization of self-transcendence that places greater emphasis on the intersubjective nature of meaningfulness. This raises questions such as: if meaningfulness is self-transcendent, where and how is meaning created? If transcendence denotes “beyondness” of the here and now, what does this mean in terms of the nature of work tasks and roles? If self-transcendence is an ineffable, transitory state, what might this mean for research into meaningful work? A shift in the emphasis of future research is necessary if we are to understand the self-transcendent nature of experienced meaningfulness.

AB - Self-transcendence is a concept often evoked in different approaches to meaningful work, but which lacks clarity. This chapter considers how the subjective experience of meaningful work, centering on significance and purpose, gives rise to the idea of meaningfulness as the realization of human potential, by connecting the inner and the outer life along spiritual and social dimensions. It points to a conceptualization of self-transcendence that places greater emphasis on the intersubjective nature of meaningfulness. This raises questions such as: if meaningfulness is self-transcendent, where and how is meaning created? If transcendence denotes “beyondness” of the here and now, what does this mean in terms of the nature of work tasks and roles? If self-transcendence is an ineffable, transitory state, what might this mean for research into meaningful work? A shift in the emphasis of future research is necessary if we are to understand the self-transcendent nature of experienced meaningfulness.

KW - Alienation

KW - Beyondness

KW - Callings

KW - Intersubjectivity

KW - Self-transcendence

KW - Significant work

KW - Spirituality

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097612668&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198788232.013.8

DO - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198788232.013.8

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85097612668

SP - 148

EP - 164

BT - The Oxford Handbook of Meaningful Work

PB - Oxford University Press

ER -