Prompt: Theranos was a privately held company that was hyped as a health technology company with groundbreaking technology. This technology was reputed to change the healthcare testing industry. At the helm of the companywas its creator, Elizabeth Holmes. Discuss the rise and fall of Theranos, the legal consequences of Holmes actions, and the actions of the other top executives. In terms of Jesus teachings, what is your Christian Worldview of all thathappened surrounding Theranos fraud?
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: The Rise and Fall of Theranos: A Moral and Legal Perspective
The Rise of Theranos
Theranos, under the leadership of Elizabeth Holmes, was once heralded as a revolutionary health technology company with the potential to transform the healthcare testing industry. Promising quick and accurate blood testing with just a few drops of blood, Theranos garnered significant attention and investment, becoming a darling of Silicon Valley.
The Fall of Theranos
However, the reality behind Theranos’ technology did not match the hype. Investigations revealed that the technology was flawed and inaccurate, putting patients at risk. The company’s downfall was swift and dramatic, leading to lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and ultimately, the dissolution of Theranos.
Legal Consequences of Holmes’ Actions
Elizabeth Holmes faced legal consequences for her role in the Theranos scandal. She was charged with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy, accused of misleading investors, healthcare professionals, and the public about the capabilities of Theranos’ technology. In 2021, Holmes was found guilty on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy, facing potential imprisonment for her actions.
Actions of Other Top Executives
Several other top executives at Theranos were also implicated in the scandal and faced legal repercussions. Some executives cooperated with authorities and provided testimony against Holmes, while others faced charges related to their involvement in the fraudulent practices at the company.
Christian Worldview Perspective
From a Christian worldview perspective, the rise and fall of Theranos and the fraudulent actions of its executives can be viewed through the lens of ethical responsibility, honesty, and accountability. Jesus teachings emphasize the importance of integrity, truthfulness, and treating others with respect and fairness.
Lessons from Jesus Teachings:
1. Honesty and Integrity: Jesus teaches the value of honesty and integrity in all dealings. Deception and fraud are considered sinful and go against the principles of truthfulness.
2. Accountability: Individuals are accountable for their actions and must face the consequences of unethical behavior. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is essential in seeking forgiveness and redemption.
3. Humility and Repentance: Acknowledging wrongdoing, seeking forgiveness, and showing humility are central tenets of Christian teachings. True repentance involves a change of heart and a commitment to righting wrongs.
In light of these teachings, the Theranos scandal serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deception, greed, and ethical lapses in business. As Christians, it is important to uphold moral values, act with integrity, and hold ourselves accountable for our actions. The Theranos case reminds us of the consequences of straying from these values and the importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation in times of moral failure.
