Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand. This concept explains how a market will provide incentives for individuals to look out for the well-being of others while also acting in their self-interest. In this discussion, your task is to:
Put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur looking to start a new business somewhere.
Explain how the invisible hand will lead you to consider the well-being of your potential customers over what you may call your short-sighted self-interest.
How might the invisible hand effect what good/service you provide?
Would the invisible hand effect the quality of goods/services you provide?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Invisible Hand: Empowering Entrepreneurs for the Well-being of Customers
Introduction
The concept of Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” has been widely discussed and celebrated in the field of economics. According to Smith, the invisible hand is a force that guides economic activities in a way that benefits society as a whole, even though individuals primarily act in their self-interest. In this essay, we will explore how the invisible hand empowers entrepreneurs to prioritize the well-being of customers over short-sighted self-interest. We will also discuss how it affects the choice of goods and services provided and the quality of those offerings.
Prioritizing Customer Well-being
As an entrepreneur looking to start a new business, the invisible hand guides my decision-making process by incentivizing me to consider the well-being of potential customers. While self-interest may initially drive me to maximize profits and minimize costs, the invisible hand reminds me that providing value to customers is essential for long-term success.
By prioritizing the well-being of customers, I can build a loyal customer base, generate positive word-of-mouth, and establish a strong reputation. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat customers and refer others to my business. This not only ensures a steady stream of revenue but also contributes to the overall growth and success of the business in the long run.
Effect on Goods and Services Provided
The invisible hand plays a fundamental role in shaping the goods and services entrepreneurs choose to provide. It encourages entrepreneurs to identify and fulfill unmet needs or desires within the market. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create value for their customers and differentiate themselves from competitors, ultimately leading to sustainable business growth.
For instance, let’s say I am considering opening a café in a neighborhood that already has several coffee shops. The invisible hand would guide me to analyze the market and identify potential gaps or opportunities that could enhance the customer experience. It might lead me to offer unique blends of coffee, introduce specialty pastries, or provide a cozy atmosphere for customers to relax and socialize.
In this scenario, the invisible hand helps me align my self-interest with the well-being of customers by challenging me to go beyond simply replicating what already exists in the market. It encourages innovation and creativity, pushing me to provide goods and services that meet the unique needs and desires of my target customers.
Impact on Quality of Goods and Services
The invisible hand also has a significant impact on the quality of goods and services provided by entrepreneurs. By prioritizing customer well-being, entrepreneurs are driven to offer high-quality products or services that exceed customer expectations.
When entrepreneurs recognize that satisfied customers are essential for their long-term success, they are motivated to deliver exceptional quality. This motivation stems from both self-interest (as satisfied customers generate repeat business) and a desire to contribute positively to society.
The invisible hand acts as a feedback mechanism that rewards entrepreneurs who provide superior quality. Positive customer feedback, increased customer loyalty, and higher demand for their offerings are all signals that entrepreneurs receive when they prioritize quality. These signals encourage them to continuously improve their goods and services, ensuring that customer well-being remains at the forefront of their business operations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the invisible hand empowers entrepreneurs by guiding them to prioritize the well-being of their potential customers over short-sighted self-interest. By doing so, entrepreneurs can build successful businesses based on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth. The invisible hand influences the choice of goods and services provided by encouraging entrepreneurs to identify unmet needs and innovate accordingly. Furthermore, it affects the quality of goods and services by rewarding entrepreneurs who consistently deliver exceptional value. Ultimately, embracing the invisible hand allows entrepreneurs to create mutually beneficial relationships with customers while contributing positively to society as a whole.
