Read about the McDonaldization of society and the rise of bureaucratic organizations on pages ine the book MindTap for Kendall’s Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials138-139. Since the Industrial Revolution and with rapid technological advancements, our societies have become increasingly formal and rationalized.
In your initial post write about the functions of bureaucratic organizations. Identify the cost we as a society, and as individuals, pay by creating these organizations and using them on a daily basis. In other words, what are the benefits, and what are the consequences of bureaucracy. In order to apply these concepts, describe how you benefit from bureaucracy on a daily basis. Also, describe a time when you were negatively affected by bureaucracy. Lastly, share your opinion about bureaucracy. Is it necessary? Can we live without it?
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 Impact of Bureaucratic Organizations on Society
In the modern world, bureaucratic organizations have become an integral part of our daily lives, shaping the way we work, interact, and function as a society. Stemming from the principles of efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control, as described by sociologist George Ritzer in the concept of McDonaldization, bureaucracies have both benefitsand consequences for individuals and society as a whole.
Functions of Bureaucratic Organizations
Bureaucratic organizations serve several key functions in society:
1. Division of Labor: By assigning specific roles and responsibilities to individuals within a structured hierarchy, bureaucracies ensure tasks are efficiently carried out.
2. Standardization: Bureaucratic systems implement standardized procedures and rules to ensure consistency and predictability in outcomes.
3. Hierarchical Structure: Clear chains of command and decision-making processes help maintain order and facilitate coordination within organizations.
4. Specialization: Bureaucracies enable individuals to specialize in their respective areas of expertise, leading to increased efficiency and expertise.
Benefits vs. Consequences of Bureaucracy
Benefits:
– Efficiency: Bureaucracies are designed to streamline processes, reduce redundancy, and increase productivity.
– Reliability: Standardized procedures ensure consistent outcomes and quality of services.
– Accountability: Clear hierarchies establish responsibility and accountability for actions within organizations.
Consequences:
– Rigidity: Bureaucratic structures can be slow to adapt to change or innovation, leading to inefficiencies.
– Dehumanization: Emphasis on rules and procedures can devalue individuality and personal relationships.
– Red Tape: Excessive bureaucracy can result in bureaucratic red tape, hampering decision-making and progress.
Personal Experience with Bureaucracy
On a daily basis, individuals benefit from bureaucracy in various ways, such as receiving timely services from government agencies or efficient transactions in large corporations. However, bureaucracy can also have negative impacts. For instance, waiting in long lines at government offices due to bureaucratic procedures or dealing with complex paperwork for simple tasks can be frustrating experiences.
The Necessity of Bureaucracy
While bureaucracy plays a crucial role in ensuring organizational efficiency and order, its rigid structures and emphasis on rules can sometimes hinder innovation and flexibility. While some level of bureaucracy is necessary for organization and coordination, finding a balance between efficiency and adaptability is crucial.
In conclusion, while bureaucracy offers essential benefits such as efficiency and accountability, it also poses challenges such as rigidity and dehumanization. Striking a balance between structure and flexibility is key to harnessing the advantages of bureaucratic organizations while minimizing their negative impacts on individuals and society.
