Ethical leadership is a crucial aspect of any organization, as it sets the tone for the values and principles followed by the members of the organization (Alverson, n.d.). Plato and Aristotle, two towering figures in ancient philosophy, offer profound insights into ethical leadership that remain relevant today. Plato, in his Allegory of the Cave and The Republic, emphasizes the importance of knowledge of the good and moral virtue in leaders. According to Plato, those who have escaped the cave of ignorance and possess knowledge of the good are best suited to lead. This argument underscores the significance of moral virtue in ethical leadership (Alverson, n.d.). Leaders who possess knowledge of the good are better equipped to make decisions that …show more content…
In contemporary leadership settings, this resistance manifests as the reluctance to question established norms or challenge the status quo. Leaders who lack knowledge of the good may succumb to this resistance and make decisions that prioritize personal gain or maintain existing power structures, rather than acting in the best interest of their followers. Issues may arise if a leader lacks knowledge of the good, as they may prioritize their own interests or adhere to unethical practices (Alverson, n.d.). Without a moral compass to guide their actions, leaders may engage in corrupt behavior or make decisions that harm their constituents. Furthermore, leaders who lack knowledge of the good may struggle to inspire trust and confidence in their followers, leading to instability and disillusionment within their organizations or communities (Alverson, n.d.). In today's complex and interconnected world, where ethical dilemmas are increasingly prevalent, a leader without knowledge of the good may struggle to navigate these challenges …show more content…
Aristotle outlines how a leader can build a virtuous character through habituation and practice. By consistently engaging in virtuous actions and cultivating moral habits, leaders can develop virtuous character traits that inform their decision-making process (Alverson, n.d.). Virtue ethics provides a framework for ethical leadership by guiding leaders to consider not only the consequences of their actions, but also the character and intentions behind them (Alverson, n.d.). This aligns with the idea that knowledge of the good is not innate, but must be cultivated through conscious effort and reflection In today's complex and interconnected world, virtue ethics can aid in decision-making by providing a moral compass to navigate ethical dilemmas. Leaders who adhere to virtue ethics are more likely to prioritize ethical considerations and act in accordance with moral principles, even in the face of challenges or temptations. By embodying virtuous character traits, leaders can inspire trust, foster collaboration, and promote the common good within their organizations and
Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” explains his beliefs on education of one’s soul and the core of the way they shape themselves. The rhetorical devices that Plato represents inside of his story explains how much freedom is worth in this world. The deeper meaning inside of what Plato describes can further be found out once a reader realizes the type of rhetorical devices are being used. For example, Plato portrays prisoners being locked inside of a cave without a way out. These prisoners never got to see the outside world, yet he mentions they “see shadows” which explains they are only able to catch a glimpse of reality from the outside. Plato’s use of imagery gives us a mental picture on the tease we may feel to notice reality but not be able to experience it. In reality, we do not value freedom as much as we are supposed to. We seem to not see the world as he sees it. With the help of personification, Plato uses human like characteristics to describe non-living things to give
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance” –George Bernard Shaw. The bodies politic in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the Bible, the Commonwealth and Israelites, both have shallow beliefs and believe what they know to be true. The Platonic Prisoner, from Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, and Moses, from the Book of Exodus in the Bible, both attempt to influence others with their newfound knowledge and wisdom because they feel the obligation to do so.They end up with different overall responses from their body politic as their relationships undergo change. For relationships to function, the bodies politic need to trust each other as well as courage. Relationship also need perseverance to last.
Some would describe life as a journey down a long, winding road. Others may describe it as a hike to the highest peak on a mountain. On the other hand, Plato, a philosopher from ancient Greece, described life like being chained up in a cave, forced to watch shadows pass on a stonewall. This was actually suggested over 2400 years ago in Plato’s Allegory of the cave found in Book VII of The Republic. The movie Room represented this theory that Plato had in that it followed the story of a woman and her son and their entrapment in a small shed they call Room. This movie shows countless examples of events that occur in their lives that portray Plato’s Allegory.
John Maxwell once said, “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” A leader must have a solid foundation as a human being before he can try to pursue the public about his visions. He will be examined from every angle about his leadership traits, style, characteristic, and so forth. All of these areas of leadership comes together in what we know as integrity. Integrity is doing what is right morally; it requires honesty, making the “right” decisions for the community, taking the blame, and being selfless. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Machiavelli’s The Prince, there are various examples as to what is the difference between a good and a bad leader, including initiative, accountability, generosity, and the leader’s values.
To apply this system of moral values effectively, one must understand the structural levels at which ethical dilemmas occur, who is involved in the dilemmas, and how a particular decision will affect them. In addition, one must consider how to formulate possible courses of action. Failing in any of these three areas may lead to an ineffective decision, resulting in more pain than cure.” Ken Blanchard states, “Many leaders don’t operate ethically because they don’t understand leadership; these executives may have MBA’s from Ivey League schools or have attended leadership training; they may routinely read the best-selling management books, however, they don’t understand what it means to be a leader.” They don’t model a way of ethical behaviors.
In Plato’s Allegory of The Cave, prisoners are kept since child birth in a dark cave, they are only able to see nothing but shadow figures move on the wall of the cave. They perceive that as their true reality since that is all they have known all their life. A prisoner breaks free from his shackles and is blinded by the light of the sun. He realized that his reality in the cave was not real, he sees people and understands what reality is now. The prisoner goes back to explain to the others what he has seen but they don’t believe him because they believed in their own reality.
Freedom in mind, freedom in nature, and freedom in subjectivity of individual are three kinds of freedoms. However, freedom should be expressed within the limits of reason and morality. Having freedom equals having the power to think, to speak, and to act without externally imposed restrains. As a matter of fact, finding freedom in order to live free is the common idea in Plato with "The Allegory of the Cave"; Henry David Thoreau with " Where I lived and What I lived for"; and Jean Paul Sartre with " Existentialism". Generally, Plato, Thoreau, and Sartre suggested that human life should be free. They differ in what that freedom is. Plato thinks it is found in the world of intellect, Thoreau thinks freedom is found in nature, and Sartre thinks freedom is found in subjectivity of individual.
We may think that we come up we ideas and theories because is something that happened in our mind and that nobody had to do something with it but all our surround environment influence us in how we take decision, in what we believe and much more. Philosophers had been influence throughout their life by other people in order to come up with their works. The philosophical work of some of the great philosophers of all time such as Plato, Marx, Freud and Carnegie were also influenced by the environment in which they were living. In the “Allegory of the Cave”, Plato was influenced by several events that happened in his life that lead to him writing this essay in a way to express his feeling on what society do to people that can show them reality.
What is truly real, and what is not? This question is one which has been pondered deeply throughout human history, and it seemingly has no definitive answer. To understand what is truly a part of reality, and what isn’t, may be an impossible feat. However, two famous works created by humans from two distant time periods attempt to dissect and analyze this philosophical question. The first, The Allegory of the Cave, was written by the great Greek philosopher, Plato, who was born in 428 B.C. in Athens, Greece. The Allegory of the Cave is a piece of a larger work of Plato’s, The Republic, which is a collection of works concerning political philosophy. The Republic is his most famous work and what he is best known for in today’s world. The second
In the contemporary world , culture refers to something as vast as the distinctive way of life of an entire community. Culture is everywhere and everyone has it; it is the mass of ideas, traditions, habits, stories, beliefs, and perspectives on life passed on to us from generation to generation through literature, language, art, myth, religion, family, and various other social institutions. Plato had many different ideas when it comes to human behavior and philosophy. Some of those things can be applied to today’s society, some of them can’t. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is probably his most famous theory, as well as Krishnamurti’s essay on cultural conditioning of a mind, they both focus on cultural values and living within a culture and can still be seen in today’s society.
Currently, leadership is generally understood as a person with insight and wisdom of guidance, which expected to be efficient in management responsibilities like planning organizing, and monitoring performance (Kandola, 2004, p. 144). In addition, making ethical decision is important to individuals who value and take seriously institutional...
Plato’s allegory of the cave include the light, the objects, and the shadows. The novel named “The Picture of Dorian Grey” contains a purposeful meaning for each key component. In the cave, individuals are shown the shadows of puppets which they consider their reality; however, it’s only a “fake” representation of reality. Just as Dorian Grey’s beautiful appearance was merely a “fake” copy of himself when he was pure and innocent, it never disappeared because of his immortality. Yet, when the individuals have been shown the objects, they are skeptical about the “true” reality, not knowing that they are seeing the truth behind the shadows. Similar to the picture of Dorian Grey, which portrayed his ghastly appearance, contained his true-self
SUMMARY Proven success in developing and implementing marketing initiatives that accelerate membership growth; consistently surpassed performance goals by 30% or more ● Strength in building relationships with members, community leaders and business executives to develop and sustain opportunities for long-term growth ● Commitment to superior customer service, understanding membership needs and creating experiences that exceed expectations ● Analytical ability to evaluate membership activity and financial reports to create programs that enhance membership satisfaction. CORE COMPETENCIES Membership Recruitment and Retention Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills Strong Leadership Skills
Organizations are constantly tested with various moral and ethical problems and dilemmas. Organizational leaders are the key to establishing an ethical climate in the workplace. By understanding and improving their own moral reasoning, and the biases that affect moral judgment, they enable themselves to make better decisions. This has a catalytic effect that positively increases organizational climate, ultimately improving all organizational behavior.
Ethical leadership organizational ethics and socially responsibility are inseparable (Johnson). Leadership is not a inherited gift or family heritage; it is not a degree from an ivy league graduate school. Becoming a leader is an intentional process of growth that must be lived out experientially (Mullane). Ethical leaders demonstrate three distinctive characteristics, knowledge, action and character. Leaders have to have the ability to say “yes” or even “no” to a never ending series of challenges. A leader needs to be able to define their values, character and leadership style. When accepting the role of leadership you become encumbered by ethical issues and concerns. .