“The Odyssey by Homer, written towards the end of the 8th century B.C.E., is an ancient Greek epic poem. It follows the main character, Odysseus’s journey back to his home, Ithaca. As an epic poem, the story is made to reflect society and culture at the time of its writing. The story includes several women, Athena, Circe, and Calypso. Throughout the novel, these women possess unique roles, unlike those of most other ancient Greek stories. In “The Odyssey” women are seen as nearly equal to men because they exhibit complicated emotions, have relationships with others, and are dynamic.
One of the story’s first examples is Calypso, the goddess-nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years. She shows from the beginning, she stands up for what she wants, which is love from Odysseus. Her obsessive feelings towards him She is also described as beautiful, but not as an object to Odysseus, who wants to return to his wife, Penelope. We learn this on page 212 when Odysseus refers to Calypso as “the lustrous goddess” (Homer 212). She is a dynamic character, as shown in Book 5. Hermes approaches her after Athena requests for Odysseus to be free. Calypso is initially pensive and remains slightly upset afterwards. Despite this, she declares that as much as she loves Odysseus, she will no longer force him to stay with her. She learns that she can show compassion and love by letting him go, allowing him to be home with his wife. She is still sad to see him go, but she shows character development by learning to let Odysseus go, and shows the somewhat invalid type of love that contrasts with Odysseus and Penelope’s pure love for each other. This makes her a static character that stands out from the others with her unique traits.
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The goddess Athena is another strong female character. From the beginning, she helps Odysseus return home. Unlike Calypso, she does not love him but wants what she believes is right for him. In book 5, Athena is the one who requests for Zeus to help Odysseus return to Ithaca. She continues to help Odysseus in book 13 when he finally returns to Ithaca. She also first shrouds the land in a mist, making it unrecognizable for him, but helps him by calling Telemachus home and disguising Odysseus an old man before he goes to overthrow the suitors with Penelope. Athena contrasts with Calypso because she represents female strength without love as an incentive. She also differs with Calypso and Circe in the sense that she only wants to help Odysseus throughout the story, never causing any harm to him.
Circe is a nymph who gets in Odysseus’s way as he attempts to return to Ithaca, by turning his men into animals, resulting in him staying on the island for a year. Hermes helps Odysseus defeat Circe, and Odysseus temporarily remains on the island as her lover. Eventually, she allows him and his men to return to Ithaca, but unlike Calypso, she does everything in her power to help him after this. She gives detailed instructions about how they must travel to the House of Death and speak to the Theban prophet, Tiresias. When Odysseus and his men return to bury Elpenor, also in Book 12, Circe does not cause any trouble for them, and once again allows them to leave peacefully. She contrasts mainly with Calypso, who also held Odysseus on an island. Unlike Calypso, she was not bitter about Odysseus going and genuinely wanted to help him.
The women of “The Odyssey” are all written in different ways when it comes to how they handle their emotions and treat Odysseus. Calypso is more egotistical while Athena wants Odysseus to succeed, and Circe represents a space between the two, being the most dynamic character with a change in how she treats Odysseus after they interact. Overall, Homer’s “The Odyssey” portrays women in a sophisticated way in which no two are the same, and they are seen as people just as much as the male characters.
Ethical Dilemmas In IT: Analyzing Brockley’s Decision-Making Process
Question 1
As defined by Ethical Dilemma Examples (nd.), an ethical dilemma that is also referred to as a moral dilemma is a situation that presents a choice between two distinct options where none is resolving the issue at hand in an ethically acceptable way.
The situation requires one to select the option that holds the least harm and with the most benefits to the parties involved. From the analysis of Harry’s case study, it is apparent that there are different ethical dilemmas presented. The first dilemma in the case is presented to Harry after Jill, the IT manager at the company rejected his program and opined that it was dangerous hence could not be embraced by the company.
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Analytically, Harry was in a dilemma to either give up on his dream or force its operation by pursuing higher authorities in the company despite Jill’s misgivings. He chose the earlier but released the program to the internet users where he assisted his prospective customers, a move that got him sacked. Nevertheless, his consultant role made his program known to Iris Bigg, the owner of the company, who ordered Brockley, the manager to urgently look for Harry (Lock Smith) since he considered him an asset to the company.
That presented the major ethical dilemma since Brockley supported Jill’s move to sack Harry. The situation presents to ethical options where each selection does not seem to solve the issue in an acceptable way to Brockley. First, calling back an employee, whom he had previously sacked will not only hurt his personality as the manager but will also prove his incompetence as he will be forced to embrace the same program he had rejected. The other option is going against his employer’s demands to look for Harry, to avoid the apparent shame, a move that will put him in trouble with Bigg. Although each selection holds unfavorable aspect to Brockley, he is required to make a choice.
Question 2
Apparently, Brockley is presented with an ethical dilemma that required him to make the most favorable choice to maximize the benefits and minimize the possible harm to himself and also the other people involved. Making of an ethical selection involves a four-step ethical analysis and decision-making process that allows a proper analysis of the situation is hence making the most suited choice (Craft, 2013 p. 230). Below is an overview of the four distinct steps of ethical analysis and decision-making process.
Step 1: Understanding the situation The first key step in making an ethical choice is understanding the situation and all aspects at stake. That involves the listing of the various facts, the aspects bringing ethical issues, and the individuals involved. That will enable an individual to realize the importance of making the right selection to save the noted shareholders from the potential harm.
In the case of Brockley, it is apparent that the ethical situation resulted from his decision to fire Harry without considering his program. He supported Jill blindly, a move that got him into the situation. Among the various shareholders involved in the ethical case is Brockley, Jill, Harry, and Bigg. Analytically, each choice holds some potential harm to different parties. First, if Brockley decides to look for Harry as instructed, he will hurt his personality and that of Jill, who are the superiors in the organization. Indeed, they will feel humiliated and incompetent by going back to support Harrys program that they had previously ejected and strongly discouraged. Second, if he decides not to call Harry back, he will have ignored his employers command that may cost him his work. That may also impact Bigg and the organization as they may lose Harry, who was considered a major asset.
Step 2: Isolate the Major Ethical Dilemma The step involves the selection and separation of the major ethical choice despite its apparent consequences to different parties involved. In the case study, the most ethical dilemma is looking for Harry. That is because although it will ridicule Brockley and Jills earlier choices to fire Harry, the choice holds the least harm and also some benefits to the parties involved. In making a choice, Brockley will sacrifice his ego to save his job by adhering to his superiors demand.
Step 3: Ethical analysis Ethical analysis step in decision-making involved the analysis of the decision made in the second step. That will allow a proper understanding of the consequences, hence preparing oneself for the outcome. From the Brockleys dilemma, if the action in step II is done, Brockley and Jill will be harmed where they will feel their earlier decision demeaned. That may further impact their work relationship, especially with Harry if he learned about what transpired. If the action in step II is not done, the most individuals may be harmed where Brockley may be fired for disobeying orders, Harry will lose the chance to introduce his program to the company, hence earning more money, and Bigg may lose Harrys expertise that would boost his company. Fundamentally, the first alternative result in the least harm. That is because the Brockley can ensure that Harry does not learn about the whole case. Moreover, hurting their ego cannot be compared with losing his job proving that the selection has the least harm. It the step is done, Harry and the company will benefit. While the earlier will get a chance to earn, the company will take advantage of the program. If the action is not done, Brockley will benefit since his authority will not be questioned. Critically, calling Harry back is the option with the maximum benefit to the most parties as well as the company.
Conclusively, doing step II holds the least harm and the maximum benefit” hence Brockley makes the selection. That will benefit him, Harry, and the company through an overall improvement of its performance. Under Kants categorical imperative, it is apparent that although Brockley and Jill will be treated with disrespect if step II is done, it will be the right move since their initial actions were not justified. As such, the action will ensure justice for all since there was no enough reason to fire Harry. That proves that the alternative in the most preferred. Critically, Brockley had neglected his duties to investigate the reason that Jill wanted to fire Harry. Instead, he chose to trust the earlier hence making a subjective decision.
Step 4: Making a decision Making of a defensible ethical decision is the last step that involves making a defensible ethical decision and listing of the various steps needed in implementing the decision (Spector, 2016 p. 1010). In the case study, it is conclusive that following Biggs order is the defensible ethical decision as it holds the least negative impacts and the most benefits. In its implementation, Brockley requires talking to Jill about it because he approved the decision to fire Harry. Moreover, that will allow him to understand the specific reasons that made Jill decide to fire Harry hence gaining a better understanding of the scenario. Notwithstanding, his criticism may be imperative in improving Harrys program, hence more benefits to the company.
ReferencesCraft, J.L., 2013. A review of the empirical ethical decision-making literature: 2004-2011. Journal of Business Ethics, 117(2), pp.221-259.
Ethical Dilemma Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://examples.yourdictionary.com/ethical-dilemma-examples.htmlSpector, J.M., 2016.
Ethics in educational technology: towards a framework for ethical decision-making in and for the discipline. Educational Technology Research and Development, 64(5), pp.1003-1011.
