Chapter 4: Professional Ethics p. 66 (regarding vignette on p. 59), Question 1 under “Reflective questions”: Consider the case described in the vignette at the beginning of this chapter (4) and answer the following for Discussion: -What were some of the personal and environmental factors that led this executive to make an unethical decision? -How could they have been avoided? -Using the ethical lens at the top of p. 62, view this case using the listed 5 ethical questions: a) Is it right?, b) is it fair?, c) who gets hurt?, d) would you be comfortable if the details of your actions were made public?, e) what would you tell your child, sibling, or young relative to do?
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
Chapter 4: Professional Ethics – Reflective Questions
Introduction
Ethical decision-making in professional contexts is crucial as it directly impacts stakeholders, organizational reputation, and the overall integrity of the profession. In the vignette described on page 59, an executive faced a challenging situation that led to an unethical decision. Analyzing the personal and environmental factors that contributed to this decision, as well as applying the ethical lens provided on page 62, can offer valuable insights into preventing similar situations in the future.
Personal and Environmental Factors
Personal Factors
1. Pressure to Perform: The executive may have felt immense pressure to meet organizational targets or achieve financial goals, leading to a willingness to compromise ethical standards.
2. Moral Disengagement: A lack of awareness or disregard for ethical implications can result from rationalizing unethical behavior as a means to an end.
3. Lack of Ethical Training: If the executive had not received adequate training on ethical decision-making, they might not have recognized the importance of upholding ethical standards.
Environmental Factors
1. Organizational Culture: A workplace culture that prioritizes results over integrity can create an environment where unethical decisions are normalized or overlooked.
2. Inadequate Oversight: A lack of checks and balances within the organization can lead to unchecked power and decision-making, increasing the likelihood of unethical conduct.
3. Peer Influence: If other leaders within the organization engage in unethical behavior without consequences, it can create a perception that such actions are acceptable.
Prevention Strategies
1. Fostering a Strong Ethical Culture: Organizations should prioritize ethical behavior by establishing clear values and a code of conduct that is communicated regularly to all employees.
2. Providing Ethical Training: Regular training sessions that focus on ethical decision-making can help employees recognize and navigate ethical dilemmas effectively.
3. Implementing Oversight Mechanisms: Establishing systems for accountability and transparency, such as ethics committees or anonymous reporting channels, can deter unethical behavior.
Ethical Lens Analysis
Using the five ethical questions outlined on page 62:
a) Is it right?
The decision made by the executive was not right, as it violated ethical principles and potentially harmed stakeholders. Upholding integrity and transparency is essential in maintaining trust.
b) Is it fair?
The decision lacked fairness, as it favored short-term gains over long-term consequences for employees, customers, and the organization. Fairness requires considering the impact on all stakeholders.
c) Who gets hurt?
Several parties could be affected by the unethical decision: employees may face job insecurity; customers may lose trust in the company; and stakeholders may experience financial losses due to damaged reputation.
d) Would you be comfortable if the details of your actions were made public?
The executive would likely feel uncomfortable if their actions were made public, indicating an awareness that their decisions were ethically questionable and not aligned with societal expectations.
e) What would you tell your child, sibling, or young relative to do?
I would advise them to always prioritize honesty and integrity in their decisions. I would encourage them to think critically about the consequences of their actions, not only for themselves but also for others involved.
Conclusion
The vignette illustrates how personal and environmental factors can lead to unethical decision-making. By fostering an ethical culture and providing adequate training, organizations can help prevent such scenarios from occurring in the future. Applying ethical questions to analyze decisions serves as a useful framework for guiding behavior in complex situations, ultimately leading to more responsible and ethical outcomes in professional settings.
