Entrepreneurship through Thomas Mann

Through the writings of Thomas Mann, this paper explores ideas about what entrepreneurship was, is, and is not. The starting point is the question of how the discourse on entrepreneurship has evolved over time. The methodology is inspired by a research program that emphasizes the relationship between social science and literature, and the empirical inquiry is guided by the works of the German author Thomas Mann, particularly, Buddenbrooks and The Magic Mountain. Through these works, the discourse on entrepreneurship is explored at two points in time: one in the 19th century and one in the present day. This exploration illustrates the contrast between the 19th-century perception of the entrepreneur as a capitalist and risk-taker, and the contemporary discourse where the entrepreneur is often seen as a creative and flexible innovator. The final section of the paper delves into the ever-expanding discourse on entrepreneurship and elaborates on what entrepreneurship is not, as well as whether the broad discourse – where even artists are considered entrepreneurs – risks obscuring the understanding of entrepreneurship.