In a professional work setting, is it more important to follow your own/individual ethical standards or those given to you by your organization? (Explain)
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
Title: Balancing Individual Ethical Standards and Organizational Guidelines in a Professional Work Setting
Introduction
Ethical decision-making in the workplace is crucial for maintaining trust, integrity, and accountability. This essay will explore the importance of balancing individual ethical standards with organizational guidelines in a professional work setting and discuss the implications of each approach.
Individual Ethical Standards
1. Autonomy and Personal Values: Following individual ethical standards allows employees to uphold their personal values and beliefs, fostering a sense of autonomy and integrity in decision-making.
2. Professional Integrity: Adhering to one’s own ethical principles can enhance professional integrity and moral responsibility, leading to a strong ethical foundation in the workplace.
3. Personal Accountability: Embracing individual ethical standards encourages personal accountability for one’s actions and decisions, promoting ethical behavior and transparency.
4. Ethical Dilemmas: In situations where organizational guidelines may be ambiguous or conflicting, relying on personal ethical standards can provide clarity and guidance for ethical decision-making.
5. Long-Term Satisfaction: Aligning one’s actions with personal ethical standards can lead to long-term satisfaction and a sense of moral fulfillment in the workplace.
Organizational Guidelines
1. Consistency and Compliance: Following organizational guidelines ensures consistency in decision-making processes and promotes compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, safeguarding the organization’s reputation.
2. Alignment with Organizational Values: Adhering to organizational guidelines demonstrates commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and values, fostering a culture of shared ethics and teamwork.
3. Risk Mitigation: Organizational guidelines often outline risk management strategies and best practices to mitigate potential ethical dilemmas or conflicts of interest, protecting both employees and the organization.
4. Professional Development: Embracing organizational guidelines can contribute to professional development by providing employees with a framework for ethical decision-making and growth within the organization.
5. Accountability to Stakeholders: Following organizational guidelines ensures accountability to stakeholders, including clients, customers, and partners, by upholding ethical standards that reflect the organization’s commitment to integrity and transparency.
Conclusion
In a professional work setting, it is essential to strike a balance between individual ethical standards and organizational guidelines to navigate complex ethical challenges effectively. While personal values and integrity play a significant role in shaping one’s ethical behavior, adherence to organizational guidelines is vital for maintaining consistency, compliance, and accountability within the workplace. By integrating personal ethics with organizational values and principles, employees can cultivate a culture of ethics, trust, and responsibility that benefits both individuals and the organization as a whole. Ultimately, the synergy between individual ethical standards and organizational guidelines contributes to a harmonious and ethically-driven work environment conducive to success and sustainability.
