Personal Philosophy Of Meaning And Value Religion Essay

Modern times have witnessed an increasing involvement in the rules and doctrines of intending as they relate to many facets of life, particularly in the work environment. It is understood that one ‘s ability to specify his ain significance and subscribe to certain value systems is premised on the chance that he has to develop a full look of himself sing his personals every bit good as professional life. The rules are made manifest as persons engage in personal relationships inherent in the modern times. These rules may be more effectual in some state of affairss and less so in others. The effectivity or deficiency of it by these rules is hinged on the significance that persons ascribe to certain actions, words, symbols and so on. Though a word that has been normally used, intending becomes a instead hard word to specify from a philosophical point of position. Meaning is normally borne out of ‘any object or symbol or mark, or through a dance, music, play or ritual ‘ ( Markovik, 1984 ) . Though any object has the ability to convey significance, objects in material signifier normally convey more significance than immaterial objects. They do non merely carry societal, but besides catching intending from one topic to the other. They besides have more impersonal and discernible qualities than those which are immaterial.

It has been by and large agreed that though there is the possibility of organizing important relationships between a physical topic and object, one can besides organize a similar relationship even if the topic and object are within the mental province of the person. A arthritic patient may for illustration experience sudden addition in hurting in his leg. Even if the patient does non venture out of the house, he will easy tie in the increased hurting in his leg with the alteration in conditions from hot to cold. Harmonizing to him hence, the increased hurting in the leg means the conditions has all of a sudden become cold. The hurting becomes the topic, while the cold conditions becomes the object. Another instance involves an alcoholic. There are some alkies who experience some weightiness in their caputs when they drink a small spot more. If such a individual wakes up in the forenoon with such weightiness, he will easy tie in it with heavy imbibing the old eventide. This associations and significances may non needfully be accurate because there are other factors with could do similar reactions. Take an illustration of a kid whose finger was burnet by a ruddy hot piece of coal. If such a kid sees a ruddy coal, he will flinch because he associates it with combustion, which is a painful experience. The same kid will flinch at the sight of a glowing optical computing machine mouse. This happens because inflammation agencies pain to the kid.

It should nevertheless be understood that an object can merely convey intending when two minimum conditions are met. In the first topographic point, there should be a topic for whom the object will convey a significance. The said object should hold the ability to be personally felt or experienced. In the 2nd topographic point, the topic should be able to hold an association with the object. If one object is A and the other one B, they experiences derived from A must connote similar experiences from B. it is merely so that intending can be conveyed. There can be no significance if one object can non be seen in footings of the other ( Markovic, 1984 ) . In normal state of affairss for illustration, a ruddy mark which with attach toing words ‘DANGER ‘ is aimed at warning people that the environment around that symbol is unsafe. If the word ‘DANGER ‘ is removed and the ruddy mark maintained, people will still cognize that the message being conveyed is that this is a unsafe topographic point from which they must maintain off.

Another country where significance could be conveyed is in symbols used as a signifier of corporate civilization ( Brink, 1991 ) . Architectural plants of some concern concerns which have a planetary presence are slightly standard. The design of Barclays Bank is for illustration unvarying globally. Person who has been to Barclays Bank in Britain would still be able to place Barclays Bank in a bantam town in Kenya, even if the bank does non hold the name Barclays Bank. He should be able to place it by the architectural design, which is meant to convey significance. Similarly, the winging bird of Jove is associated with the bank. If person saw a edifice with the image of the winging bird of Jove without the name ‘Barclays Bank ‘ , he should be able to tie in it with Barclays Bank because the winging bird of Jove has been accepted as significance Barclays Bank.

Together with significance is the inquiry of knowledge as it relates to human experiences in a figure of state of affairss. Human existences have the ability to do significance by illation in state of affairss where they might non hold antecedently been consciously cognizant of. Some significances are created by construing actions as they occur. While driving on the main road, a automobilist could detect the one in front of him bespeaking that he is turning right. The automobilist behind will instantly deduce the significance that the automobilist in front is turning right. He will so automatically brake his ain auto lest he rams into the one in front because before he turns right, the automobilist in front must foremost brake. This implies that significance could besides be derived from illation and common sense ( Leitgeb, 2007 ) . Cognition besides considers the dichotomy of experience. One object could hold the ability to convey two different significances. The rose flower is for illustration non merely pleasant to look at, but besides because of its sweet aroma. The rose flower is besides loved because it communicates a soft velvety feeling, an object that is considered beautiful but delicate. The whole construct of intending must hence be a shared one, where the object and its association maintain that sort of relationship over a broad subdivision of the society.

Together with the construct of significance is that of value. The person ‘s personal doctrine is expected to supply him with a model of ‘distinguishing, unknoting, dividing and groking personal values ‘ ( Merriam, 1982 ) . Such a doctrine should hold the ability to make in the single the ability to be flexible and consistent every bit far as his working life is concerned, particularly when 1 is in place of leading. Merriam farther postulates that an person who has some sort of personal doctrine should be able to hold it reflected in his pattern at work, and good as provide him with good guidelines whereby he will be able to do quality policy determinations. A leader with a personal doctrine could easy run with improved professionalism and objectiveness. Personal doctrine directs a leader ‘s ends, aims, attitudes, values and significance that would gives him the drift to work hard to achieve them. Personal doctrine motivates and energizes a leader and gives him the guidelines required to do determinations founded on wisdom and certainty, and to execute actions which are peculiar and dramatic in the class of his working life ( Hiemstra, 1988 ) .

Personal doctrine besides inculcates certain values in persons which find application in assorted domains of life. This is most important in work state of affairss because single values play a cardinal function in how people interact at their topographic points of work. It is interesting to observe that construct of personal values has continued to undergo alterations based on assorted schools of idea. These are the traditional, the modern and the post-modern schools of idea. Since single values have been dynamic as a contemplation of the dynamic society, it will be necessary to look at how single values are regarded by each one of these schools.

The Traditional School of Thought

The traditional school of idea was based on instead religious values. They looked at values from the stuff every bit good as religious positions. Materially, values were treated as trade goods that were needed by people for day-to-day life. Religious values are based on one ‘s mind, truth, will and beauty. Such are the values that were espoused by Grecian philosophers are Christianity. Christianity considers values such as love, religion, forbearance, joy, kindness, peace, goodness, self-denial, gradualness, and hope as cardinal to their belief. These values are reflected in the current times as regard for one ‘s household, honor, honest concern patterns and distinguishing between right and incorrect.

The values espoused by the traditional school could be applied by those keeping leading places in organisations for their ain benefit, that of the organisations and employees. Faithfulness will restrain one to stay true to his employers and those functioning under him. Patience will assist the leader to avoid hotfooting through determinations that could backlash with clip. A leader who values kindles will happen it easier placing with those who might be in one sort of agony or the other. He will non for illustration haste to train an employee without thought of the effects this could hold on the employee and his household. A peace loving leader will ever seek to work out struggles without waiting to hold the get out of manus. A leader who is self-controlled will frequently take determinations after rationalizing, and will avoid being driven by impulse or emotions. A leader who values gradualness will be in accessible by all employees, and will desire to advance an environment where all stakeholders feel valued as members of the organisation.

Apart from the traditional values that are a effect of personal doctrine, there are besides traditional positions of leading which assorted governments have put Forth. Burns ( 1978 ) defines leading as “ bring oning followings to move for certain ends that represent the values and the motivations-the wants and demands, the aspirations and expectations-of both leaders and follower ” this definition seems to tally with the traditional values where God was considered the incarnation of all the values that were good. The traditional position of leading considers leaders as being born with particular traits, which could be transferred from one coevals to the other within the household. This position looks at leading as a category map. It is besides holds the position that work forces who rose to greatness did so because they and certain traits which were non found in other people. A leader who subscribes to this point of position would of course non take the enterprise of developing the leading potency in others, particularly if they come from backgrounds that opportunity might non hold favored. There was nevertheless no grounds to warrant this place, but it was established that certain persons are able to develop certain leading qualities and utilize them depending on the people they are taking ( Likert, 1967 ) . Leadership traits that were required and employed in one state of affairs might non be efficaciously utilized in another state of affairs. Simply put, there can non be a transportation of leading traits because each state of affairs is alone. Similarly, the followings have a greater function to play in determining the success or failure of a leader. If a leader gets really concerted, educated and committed followings, he is likely to emerge as a successful leader, irrespective of the traits that he possesses. Conversely, if a leader gets uncooperative and inexperient followings who are unwilling to larn, such a leader is likely to neglect even if he has the stakes leading qualities conceivable.

Harmonizing to Burns ( 1978 ) , two leading theoretical accounts ; transformational and transactional, specify to a great trade how leaders win or neglect from their interaction with their followings. Burns says transformational leaders motivate and inspire their followings and accordingly win their support by subscribing to their highest values and ideals including justness peace, equality and autonomy. These values are instrumental in volitionally beat uping the followings behind the leader. In transactional leading, accent is on regulation and end oriented, with the involvement in retaining the position quo. This sort of leading gets followings support through wagess for conformance to organisational ends and aims, and penalty when there is a breach. The effect of the traditional leading position is that there necessitate to be interplay between the leader and the follower if consequences are to be achieved. It is for this intent that Graen, Novak and Sommerkamp 1982 ) came up with the leader-member exchange theory, where the common relationship between the leaders and followings is certain to give consequences.

The Modern School of Thought

The modern school of idea attempted to switch its focal point on human values from the household to ground and cognition. It took a more scientific based attack ( Ramp, 2001 ) . Modernists placed a batch of accent on values such as equality, autonomy, rights every bit good as prosecuting felicity. Modernism besides laid accent on the mechanistic facet of life as it tried to switch off from the traditional position that had a twine foundation in spiritualism. In the workplace, a leader who espouses the values of equality would be driven by the desire to make equal chances for all people irrespective of gender, race, faith and other considerations. He would besides give them their autonomy and freedom to tie in, acquire publicity, express themselves and bask all other autonomies the organisation offers. The leader would besides guarantee that the employees enjoy their rights as employees and human existences. Such a leader would besides make an environment in which the employees work merrily by doing certain that their concerns are raised and addressed in a liqueur atmosphere. Such a leader is certain to win in his leading function.

The modern position on leading could be examined in relation to the values held by the modernist school of idea. This school shifts its focal point from persons entirely to persons, the context, civilization, topographic point every bit good as the clip as a system within which they operate. It is held that leading does non merely go on, but it is developed over clip and infinite ( Giddens,1991 ) . This is because the environment within which people act keeps altering and with these alterations, there comes the demand to do accommodations in order to turn to the emerging issues. Organizational leading in the modernist position is concerned with quality control, end scene, planning, and motive and furthering good working dealingss with and between assorted stakeholders such as providers, employees, clients and the authorities and so on.

The leader who besides plays the function of the director performs supervisory responsibilities over the remainder of the employees. If he insists on making things his manner all the clip, the employees could easy take the back place and allow him do errors for which they he will be responsible. This theoretical account nevertheless values deputation, where the leader-manager disperses some of his responsibilities to others within the organisation. This manner, there is a shared duty. The leader plays the function of instructor or wise man to those working under him, and portions his wisdom with them. The leader with a personal doctrine would easy authorise others in the organisation by guaranting there is uninterrupted communicating on policy issues. Empowerment would besides include affecting employees in determination devising. His desire to make a peaceable environment would see him efficaciously manage struggles within so organisation by work outing jobs when they occur without waiting for them to make crisis degree.

The modern position of leading besides places the leader at the centre of actuating his staff for increased productiveness. He besides leads them in puting ends for the organisation, and takes clip to supervise attachment to these ends. It is expected that the leader sets his image of the hereafter of the organisation and translates this image into stairss which are practical, and for which he can account.

The Post modern School of Thought

The station modern school of idea has its foundations in ground. It holds the position that there are no specific values that one could subscribe to, but considers values from a generalised position. It allows persons to put their ain values, penchants and attitudes. This school emphasizes single liberty ( Gibbins, 1999 ) . Meaning in this context is realized from many waies. There is no peculiar significance that one could scribe to a peculiar object. Each person has a alone position or significance of a peculiar object. One object can hence hold as many significances as there are persons construing it. The postmodern school encourages creativeness without restricting people to merely one standard manner of looking at issues ( Grassie, 1997 ) . Though postmodernists appreciate the being of God, they do non believe that he is the cardinal figure every bit far as the value system is concerned. Valuess are looked at from the scientific, ethical, aesthetical and spiritual position.

Leaderships who subscribe to the value system as advocated by the postmodernists would let their followings a batch of latitude in take parting in determination devising within the organisation. Their followings would frequently be involved in puting organisational ends and aims with the purpose of acquiring as many divergent places as possible.

The postmodern position on leading follows through the postmodern position on nucleus values. This attack emphasizes the creative activity of hierarchies where there is the leader and followings. These footings help in the creative activity of individuality, which is rather common in the present organisational agreement ( Collinson, 2005 ) . Whereas the leader gives orders, the follower receives and Acts of the Apostless on the orders given. As before noted nevertheless, the postmodern school emphasizes liberty in puting values, with every member being given the latitude to take part. In organisations, each employee takes duty in the development of organisational ends and aims. This creates a leaderless or non-leader state of affairs and allows a participatory, collegial and collaborative leading. The leader in such an organisation becomes some sort of facilitator or a symbol of version.

My personal Doctrine of significance and Value

Some people derive intending out of the experiences of life, while others do non. Peoples have been intrigued inquiries as to the causes of meaningful and valuable, or meaningless experiences ( Das, 1998 ) . I consider moral development as one value facet of my life. Kohlberg ( 1971 ) has identified three phases by which one develops morally, which each phase doing an person more advanced that the other. The more I have grown as a societal being, the more I have become more able to appreciate the fact that I can do errors from which I learn and make corrections without faulting others for my failures.

I value proficiency in occupation public presentation as a certain manner of bettering productiveness, while giving room for farther acquisition. I besides believe in authorising employees so that they are able to work independently and take part in decision-making within the organisation. Those who perform magnificently should be promoted to execute at higher degrees. An unfastened and honest communicating is cardinal directing actions within the organisation, every bit good as circulating information and policy determinations to all members. I besides value honestness and unity in undertaking public presentation. An honorable employee who carries himself with unity can be trusted with the organisation ‘s resources both human and stuff.

I place a batch of value in employees who have a pioneering and advanced spirit. Such employees are able to take enterprise, make errors and learn from them. It is good to seek and do a error than ne’er seek at all. I value employees who are levelheaded and who are able to equilibrate between their work and household personal businesss ; their emotional, physical and rational demands. I besides understand that as a human being, one is prone to mistake. I therefore allow room for errors without doing a large issue out of it. Teamwork is besides another valuable plus for the realisation of the organisation ‘s ends and aims.

Decision

From the predating discourse, it can be said that personal doctrine shapes the manner one ascribes significance to objects, and the manner he espouses certain values both in his life and his topographic point of work. Positive values are accepted by society, while negative 1s are shunned. These values as they relate to leading hold been seen to germinate over clip as seen from the assorted schools of idea examined.