Good and Evil Reflected in Literature - Book Report/Review Example

? QUESTIONS 4 pages needed. Please, give concise, thoughtful answers to all of the 9 questions below. Link provided to find the article (just copy and paste). Please make reference to your readings in the answers. Agree or disagree with the readings, but explain the reasoning behind your conclusions. #1. The Google "Code of Conduct" (http://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html) refers to the ethical principle "Don't be evil." Pretend you work for Google and have been given the assignment to explain to other Google employees what the words "don't be evil" mean in business ethics. Discuss at least one personal example of "evil" behavior in business or management you have encountered, witnessed, our read about. What was "evil" about it? You may review the Google website and other sources, but the answer to this question should be stated in your own words. We're asking you to be creative and thoughtful. Also, if you think Google itself violates the "don't be evil" principle, feel free to say so--but develop and explain your argument. As referred to in the reading, “Don’t be evil” is Google’s way of calling on to its employees to act responsibly, fairly and decently by virtue of their conduct in their business dealings. While on one hand, “Don’t be evil” implies fairly honoring the secrecy of information provided to them by their customers, but also means that employees respect each other at all times. Off-lately, I witnessed an evil example in a company that I worked. Apparently, one of my colleagues wanted to move out and set up his own business. In this bid, he exploited and mis-used the trust placed on him by the company. He used the customer personal data, to target them and attract them to his business instead. The “evil” in this is dis-honesty and disrespecting your contract with Google. Using the right ladder for success is important. Such philandering ways are a big no. This Harvard University commencement speech (http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/1999/199906102.htm) by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan may give you some ideas about why and how a business can avoid the evil Google executives may have in mind. Here are several paragraphs of special interest: "I do not deny that many appear to have succeeded in a material way by cutting corners and manipulating associates, both in their professional and in their personal lives. But material success is possible in this world and far more satisfying when it comes without exploiting others. The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake." "I cannot speak for others whose psyches I may not be able to comprehend, but, in my working life, I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealings and strict adherence to the view that for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well. Human relations--be they personal or professional--should not be zero sum games." "And beyond the personal sense of satisfaction, having a reputation for fair dealing is a profoundly practical virtue. We call it 'good will' in business and add it to our balance sheets." 2. Please read and think about this quotation: "The mind is fickle and flighty, it flies after fancies and whatever it likes; it is difficult indeed to restrain. But it is a great good to control the mind; a mind self-controlled is a source of great joy." --Buddha's Teachings (Penguin Classics, p. 8). Identify three strategies you use (or recommend) to strengthen self-control. This optional reading may give you some ideas: An interview conducted with Roberto Assagioli by Sam Keen(http://www.classicallibrary.org/tolstoy/ivan/index.htm) . Self-control is nothing but one’s urge to resort to a sound stellar will-power. It is easy to give in-to temptations but very difficult to keep one’s guard. According to Fujita (2006) self control can be exercised in various way. The first strategy should be “Seeing the bigger picture”. Instant of focusing on the smaller actions, one should think of the bigger goal. Second strategy, I recommend would be “Abstract reasoning”- this means instead of focusing on smaller details, focusing on the abstract vision by not going into the “hows” of the action. Third strategy would be “Categorization” – thinking of a huge task can be bogging. The ideal way would be to think of it as something comprised of many smaller tasks. This would help one from panicking away. 3. Please read Book One (http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.1.one.html)of the Meditations of Roman Emperor and Stoic (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/) philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Then write a concise statement of gratitude identifying the ethical and intellectual debts you owe to family members, teachers, or friends. Fictitious names are permitted, but the statement of gratitude should be genuine. I don’t think I would have been what I am if it was not for my family, teachers and friend. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those to whom I owe so much for being me. First of all my mom; cant ever thank you enough for being my biggest pillar of support all these years. You not only helped me in turbulent years but have also been instrumental in being my a huge helping hand whenever I Needed you without my even asking for it. Secondly to my dad and Grandpa, for their constant and unwavering support and confidence in me. I would also like to thank my best friend, Noor for always being there for me whenever I needed her. Don’t think , I would have made it anywhere in life without you, without those crazy times, those moments of laughter, those moments in which we held on to each other. If it was not for you, I would have been no where-thanks a tone. 4. What is the thesis of Joshua Wolf Shenk's article (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/10/lincoln-apos-s-great-depression/4247/).about Abraham Lincoln? Identify three of Lincoln's coping strategies (skills, habits, or ways of thinking) that helped him use depression to achieve his greatness. The article describes depression as a medical condition-it is an ailment which can only be measured by reduction in pain. The author takes into account Abraham Lincholn’s melancholic behavior throughout his life to assert his point. Lincoln coped up with depression by 1) Over-coming fear 2) Engagement with the culture around him and discovering himself 3) Transcendence-He was able to see suffering sufferings of others with more conviction and clarity because the same had brought him so much trouble. 5. The Declaration of Independence refers to the ''pursuit of happiness.'' Should the word ''pleasure'' be substituted for ''happiness''? Why/why not? Explain your answer. Pleasure brings about happiness so yes it can be substituted for happiness. Happiness is a euphoric feeling, make one feel good from within. The context of happiness varies from situation to situation, person to person, time to time but pleasure arouses the happy feeling. So yes I think, it can be substituted with happiness. 6. Read Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich (http://www.classicallibrary.org/tolstoy/ivan/index.htm). 6 (a) What do you think is Tolstoy's core message about how to define "a good life?" Be sure to provide a pertinent quotation from the reading. Tolstoy’s story throws light into the life of a man who did nothing useful in his life and whose imagination could not conceive death. The book relays that the way we live our life is very important if we wish to see a better life in the life here-after. The book also critiques the lives led by middle class people and claims that they lead “artificial lives” 6 (b) Identify a key character in the story (not a member of Ivan's family) who leads what Tolstoy would define as a good life. Please explain your answer. Geraism. He led a happy and good life because he was happy and content with whatever little he had. There was a sense of peace that surrounded him and that’s what Ivan envied about him. He had everything yet he was not happy. This did not go down to well with Ivan. 7. What advice do you have for your fellow students about the best way to avoid committing an act of academic dishonesty? I would say that first of all they should resist the urge to do so. Have it in their moral conscience that it is a “Wrong” and would do no good to them. Once the “moral conscience” is there, dishonesty automatically becomes a “no-go” zone. That path is perpetually impossible to follow because one’s moral conscience is itself so high. It is then when students should prepare for things in advance and succumb to hardwork to achieve what they want and in all honesty. They will automatically avoid circumstances which will compel them to indulge in academic dishonesty. Thus I would advice my fellow students to develop a strong will power in them of their moral conscience and once that is there, everything else will follow. Circumstances will be created to cater to the needs and aspirations of the consciences but for that they need to know, “what is bad, is bad and what is evil is evil?”. 8. Please review the assigned excerpts (https://docs.google.com/a/fiu.edu/Doc?id=dfdpvzp9_1458fj6qmghg) from An Anatomy of Life in the Death Camps by Terrence Des Pres. Kindly respond to this question: "Does Terrence Des Pres think the human moral sense is an idealistic illusion or an evolutionary survival strategy?" Please explain your answer, agreeing or disagreeing with Des Pres' analysis. Cite at least one of the numbered paragraphs for support. Terrence Pres felt that human moral sense was an evolutionary survival strategy. It was a gradual course. We evolved not just in terms of appearance but also in our perception of thinking and surviving in this world as a whole. Ever wondered why there were apes before us? The way human race evolved in terms of its look, it also evolved in terms of its outlook on life. This paragraph from the excerpt explains my point. It explains the way in which the concept of family saw twilight. People started feeling the need to look after each other and that’s how they realized that it would be better to have a family for 2-3 people. Paragraph cited: [7] "And all the time there was this awful fight for one's bare existence. The essential thing of course, was not to lose the will to live, for this definitely meant death. I soon realized that alone one could not possibly survive. It was necessary therefore to form little families of  two or three. In this way we looked after one another"  (Hart, 63). 9. How is a good life defined, and what is your plan to achieve it? Please refer to the assigned readings (above) to support your answers Good life varies and is very relative. For me good life, is being at peace with myself and looking back at my years thinking that I did something substantial; I made good use of my time; My life did not go to dogs and neither was it a waste. As depicted by Leo Tolstoy, in his book, good life will follow inner peace and satisfaction and that only comes when we try to pave for a better life in the here-after. I plan to achieve my good life, by sheer hard work, ambition and drive to do something and make something out of myself. I believe in the quest for more information, for more knowledge and for inner discovery of myself. I feel that the aforementioned trains will be instrumental in shaping my journey. References: Fujita, K. (2008), Seeing the Forest Beyond the Trees: A Construal-Level Approach to Self-Control. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2: 1475–1496 Markus, H. (1977). Self-schemata and processing information about the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 63-78. Newstorm, J. a. (1993). Organizational Behavior: Human Behavior at Work. New York: McGraw Hill. Read More