TY - CONF TI - Lean construction epistemology: human-centered insights from Plato and Aristotle C1 - Singapore, Singapore C3 - Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 34) SP - 642 EP - 654 PY - 2026 DO - 10.24928/2026/0309 AU - Romo, Rubén AU - Forcael, Eric AU - Moreno, Francisco AU - Orozco, Francisco AD - Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara 45010, Mexico; rromog@up.edu.mx, orcid.org/0000-0002-5941-0173 AD - Professor, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4081339, Chile; eric.forcael@uss.cl, orcid.org/0000-0002-3036-4329 AD - Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara 45010, Mexico; fmorenoa@up.edu.mx, orcid.org/0000-0003-4058-9350 AD - Professor, School of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara 45010, Mexico; forozco@up.edu.mx, orcid.org/0000-0003-2409-1026 ED - Hamzeh, Farook ED - Poshdar, Mani ED - Garcia-Lopez,, Nelly P. AB - The purpose of this article is to explore how the philosophical ideas of the “Person” and human well-being articulated by the key Greek thinkers, Plato and Aristotle, provide a foundational framework for understanding contemporary approaches to value creation in Lean Construction (LC). By examining Plato’s vision of the human being as oriented toward ideal forms and ethical elevation, alongside Aristotle’s conception of the person as a rational, emotional, and social agent whose flourishing depends on balance and practical wisdom, this study highlights how classical philosophy continues to inform modern notions of comfort, well-being, and ethical practice in the built environment. The article shows how important philosophical concepts, such as Plato’s quest for the ideal good and Aristotle’s emphasis on eudaimonia, harmony, and moral action, align with the tenets of LC, particularly its emphasis on respect for people, ongoing improvement, and the optimization of circumstances to enhance human experience. The primacy of the Human-centered in Lean processes connects with Greek thought, in which well-being, virtue, and correct conduct serve as the basis for any purposeful production. The research provides a conceptual paradigm that integrates Platonic and Aristotelian perspectives on the Person with contemporary management techniques through Lean principles. KW - Plato KW - Aristotle KW - human-centered insights KW - lean construction KW - lean theory. PB - T2 - Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 34) DA - 2026/06/22 CY - Singapore, Singapore L1 - http://iglc.net/Papers/Details/2586/pdf L2 - http://iglc.net/Papers/Details/2586 N1 - Export Date: 19 June 2026 DB - IGLC.net DP - IGLC LA - English ER -