Summarize what Marglin’s arguing, his insights, key concepts etc.(for me to present)
give very insightful, and useful summary of Marglin’s “what do bosses do”, and also a very brief summary of Landes’s what do bosses really 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
Marglin’s “What do Bosses Do”:
In his essay “What Do Bosses Do?,” Stephen Marglin challenges the traditional economic theories that suggest bosses play a crucial role in coordinating and directing the work of employees. Marglin argues that bosses often contribute little to the actual productive process and, instead, primarily serve to maintain power differentials and reinforce hierarchical structures within organizations. He suggests that the authority and control exerted by bosses may not be as essential to the functioning of an organization as commonly believed.
Marglin’s insights shed light on the social dynamics at play in workplaces, highlighting how managerial positions can perpetuate unequal power relations and hinder true collaboration among workers. By questioning the necessity of bosses in driving productivity, Marglin prompts a reconsideration of organizational structures and the distribution of authority within them.
Key concepts in Marglin’s essay include the distinction between productive and unproductive labor, the role of hierarchy in shaping workplace interactions, and the implications of managerial authority for worker autonomy and satisfaction. Through his critique of conventional views on the functions of bosses, Marglin encourages readers to reevaluate the ways in which power operates within organizations and the potential for more equitable and efficient modes of work organization.
Landes’s “What do Bosses Really Do”:
In contrast to Marglin’s perspective, William N. L. Landes explores the multifaceted roles that bosses play in organizations in his essay “What Do Bosses Really Do.” Landes argues that bosses serve critical functions beyond mere supervision, including providing guidance, making strategic decisions, fostering innovation, and ensuring the overall success of the enterprise. He emphasizes the importance of leadership in motivating employees, setting goals, and maintaining a cohesive vision for the organization.
Landes’s analysis underscores the significance of managerial roles in driving organizational performance and achieving business objectives. By highlighting the diverse responsibilities that bosses undertake, Landes offers a more nuanced understanding of the value that effective leadership can bring to an organization.
While Marglin and Landes approach the question of what bosses do from different perspectives, their work collectively contributes to a richer understanding of the complexities inherent in managerial positions and their impact on workplace dynamics. By engaging with both authors’ insights, one can gain a comprehensive view of the roles, functions, and implications of bosses within contemporary organizations.
