Prof. R. Edward Freeman, Ph.D.

Philosopher and Professor of Business Administration

R. Edward Freeman is an American philosopher and Professor of Business Administration, best known for developing stakeholder theory. He studied philosophy at Duke University and later earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis. Freeman has spent much of his academic career at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, where he is University Professor and the Elis and Signe Olsson Professor of Business Administration. His work bridges philosophy, ethics, and management studies, with a particular focus on business ethics, corporate responsibility, and the role of values in capitalism. Through theoretical and applied research, he examines how businesses can create value for a broad range of stakeholders rather than solely for shareholders. His research combines normative philosophy with practical management theory and has had a significant influence on both academic scholarship and business practice.