[JumpCrisscross]

> purpose of a company was originally exactly that: to employ people and provide services and value to the community they existed in

This describes charities, trusts and local governments. Maybe artisans. The East India companies weren’t trying to “provide services and value” to anyone but their owners. Even going back to Roman times, civic duty and commercial interests were distinct parts of peoples’ work. You were expected to do both. But the unification of the two pursuits appears to be more modern.

[falcolas]

Shareholders are not the only stakeholders who should be considered in a company.

"The purpose of a corporation is to ... create value over the long-term, which requires consideration of the stakeholders ... (shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, creditors and communities) ..."

https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2020/05/27/on-the-purpose-of...

[JumpCrisscross]

> Shareholders are not the only stakeholders who should be considered in a company

Sure. (Though this is far from settled.) But saying this was the "original...purpose of a company" is inaccurate.