Existential Gift

Definition

Sandrine Fremeaux and Grant Michelson:

"Firmly embedded in the idea of giving for its own sake, the existential gift suggests that for some individuals the expectations of reciprocity are neither sought nor established. Generosity that is expressed in both tangible and intangible ways need not depend on the response of intended receivers or recipients (e.g. acceptance or non-acceptance) to precipitate future acts of giving. Based on the logic of unconditionality, the existential gift provides human actors with greater freedom in their choices and relationships. It may well be that this freedom, in turn, creates a new 'ethic of generosity' whereby significant progress can be made towards developing more human models and practices in business." (https://hal-audencia.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00797037)

More Information

• Essay: The Existential Gift in Business