The article considers interdisciplinary aspects of research in the field of labor productivity due to the constant transformation of concepts used by the scientific community. It analyzes philosophical views on productivity, which have had a determining influence on the trends in the development of social sciences, in particular, political economy. The uneven development of society makes it necessary to synthesize methodological achievements of philosophical traditions (analytical and continental), which enriches the scientific vision and creates a field for a comprehensive consideration of productivity problems from a new perspective. An attempt is made to substantiate the thesis that the humanistic approach excludes the option of absolutization of productivity; in parallel, the question of taking into account value, cultural and technological processes is raised. It is concluded that instead of a general universal indicator, a set of criteria relevant to a particular issue should be used, taking into account the opportunities present within the transforming paradigm.