How do the police tend to engage as they identify and enforce morality?
Explain what factors influence organizational culture.
Explain how the police culture/subculture can have both positive and negative connotations, with examples of each, and the implications of such.
Do you think the police decide what moral behavior is appropriate?
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
Understanding Police Engagement in Morality Enforcement and Organizational Culture
Police Engagement in Morality Enforcement
The police often engage in identifying and enforcing morality through various mechanisms such as enforcing laws related to public decency, substance abuse, and ethical conduct. Factors that influence their approach include societal norms, legal frameworks, departmental policies, and individual officer discretion. In some cases, the police may act as moral agents by upholding community standards, while in others, their actions may reflect biases or subjective interpretations of morality.
Factors Influencing Organizational Culture
Organizational culture within police departments is shaped by a multitude of factors, including:
1. Leadership Styles: The behavior and values exhibited by police leaders significantly impact the organizational culture. Authoritarian leadership may promote a rigid and hierarchical culture, while transformational leadership can foster innovation and adaptability.
2. Training and Education: The training programs and educational opportunities provided to officers influence their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Continuous training on ethics and community relations can shape a positive organizational culture.
3. Socialization and Peer Influence: The informal norms and values shared among colleagues play a crucial role in shaping the organizational culture. Peer pressure and group dynamics can either reinforce positive behaviors or perpetuate negative practices.
Positive and Negative Aspects of Police Culture/Subculture
Positive Connotations:
– Comradery and Support: Police culture often promotes a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork among officers, fostering a supportive environment in challenging situations.
– Commitment to Service: Many police officers are deeply committed to serving their communities and upholding the law ethically and responsibly.
Negative Connotations:
– Code of Silence: The “blue wall of silence” perpetuates a culture of secrecy and protectionism, hindering accountability and transparency within the police force.
– Use of Excessive Force: In some cases, a culture that tolerates or even encourages the use of excessive force can lead to violations of civil rights and trust erosion within communities.
Implications of Police Culture/Subculture
The positive aspects of police culture can enhance morale, promote teamwork, and improve community relations. Conversely, negative aspects such as corruption, misconduct, or bias can erode public trust, breed resentment, and undermine the legitimacy of law enforcement agencies.
Police Determination of Moral Behavior
While the police play a crucial role in enforcing laws and upholding societal norms, the determination of what constitutes appropriate moral behavior is a complex interplay of legal standards, cultural values, and individual perspectives. While the law provides a framework for defining acceptable conduct, moral judgments are subjective and can vary based on context, beliefs, and societal expectations. Police officers should adhere to legal mandates and ethical guidelines to ensure fair and just enforcement practices.
In conclusion, the engagement of police in morality enforcement is influenced by various factors, organizational culture shapes their attitudes and behaviors, and the police culture/subculture can have both positive and negative implications. The determination of moral behavior is a multifaceted process that requires adherence to legal standards, ethical principles, and a commitment to serving the community with integrity.
