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This essay offers a critical analysis of innovation management research in light of the theoretical framework proposed by the French anthropologist Philippe Descola. It demonstrates how occidental societies are characterized by a “naturalist” ontology that establishes a clear separation between nature and culture. We show how this ontology translates into the Schumpeterian concept of creative destruction, which constitutes the theoretical background of the discipline. This leads to a pro-innovation bias that excludes from the scope of analysis both the question of the ends of innovation and that of ecological limits. This, we argue, constitutes an ontological obstacle to conceptualizing the ecological transition. We conclude with current evolutions and propose some perspectives for future research.