Why study leadership from a philosophical perspective?

Why are there so many different theories of leadership? In fact, what is leadership? Sociology, anthropology, political science and psychology are among the disciplines which have addressed these questions. Definitive answers, however, remain elusive. Rather than attempting to provide such answers, this book questions the very questions perennially asked about leadership. In it ideas from the branch of philosophy known as ‘Continental philosophy’1 are applied to interrogate habitual ways of thinking about and inquiring into this much studied phenomenon. For instance, rather than asking ‘What is leadership?’, the question, ‘How might we understand leadership as a phenomenon?’ is posed. Rather than wondering, ‘Why aren’t there more women in senior leadership roles?’ the question, ‘Why is gender so important in leadership?’ will be explored. Through ‘living the questions’ differently and living different questions, this book aspires to breathe new life into the way scholars, teachers and students intrigued by it might re-conceptualize leadership and its role in human communities. Continental philosophy has never been wary of engaging with the significant questions of purpose and meaning central to human life. In this second edition of the book I extend beyond phenomenology to include Michel Foucault’s ideas about power and consider how they might inform our understanding of how power works within leadership relations. A further four new chapters are included, each of which has been written by a colleague who has extended ideas introduced in the original edition. These include a chapter on responsible leadership by Rita A. Gardiner, gender and leadership by Claire O’Neill, applying the leadership moment within contexts by Tayo Switzer and the