Please answer the following questions in 500 or 600 words.
By 1949 (the year this essay was published), Drucker had witnessed the devastation of two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the rise of totalitarian regimes. He felt despair over the state of society and believed that it was important to affirm ethics and hope and not just focus on society’s structures. How might issues facing us today (inequality, polarization, lack of community, etc.) make some feel that “society is not enough” in the twenty-first century?
For Drucker, morality and virtue grounded in spiritual values mattered more than “good deeds” based on social validation and conformity. His view aligns with acting morally out of personal conviction rather than for approval or image management. What are some examples of acting out of personal convictions rather than considerations of public image?
Drucker’s emphasis on personal responsibility rather than just rules/incentives mirrors Kierkegaard’s philosophy, which focuses on individual choice and meaning. These ideas suggest that people should engage in reflective ethical analysis when making decisions in their organizations. What might be some examples of executive decisions that would involve the contemplation of moral issues rather than simply following orders or codes?
Focusing the answers more directly on interpreting the Drucker essay and connecting it to existentialist themes around individual responsibility provides a strong demonstration of comprehension and critical analysis.
