Critique of Many Gentile’s Giving Voice to Values

Answer

Critique of Many Gentile’s Giving Voice to Values

Often, people in different contexts, be it cultural, religious, educational, professional, or social among others, seem to have a strong sense of what is right or wrong. Whenever people face ethical dilemmas, there is generally an urge to do that which they believe is right. However, they fail to do so in fear of facing negative consequences, which may be real or imagined. In her book, Giving Voice to Values: How to Speak Your Mind When You Know What’s Right, Mary Gentile details various strategies that can help people to develop the tools as well as skills that they need to not only speak up, but also take action  in the same respect. This paper presents a critique of Mary Gentile’s book.

In summary, the book details strategies that people need to develop skills and tools for speaking up and acting whenever faced with ethical dilemmas. While the subject matter of this book has been widely explored in literature, the author takes a different approach in that the book is more about action than ethics, revolving more on the sharing and creating of stories than analyzing them, and learning to appreciate self than yearning to be better (Gentile 19). The book assumes that an actor already knows what is right (and as such ought to be done), and only needs help to transform intent into effective (and appropriate actions).  Laying out its main premise that people know what is right in the introductory chapter, the author proceeds to, in chapters two to nine, explore various issues, contexts, and strategies for speaking up and acting.

Reading through the book, Gentile’s message is simple and easy to understand. She emphasizes the importance of knowing what one’s values, which should then be deliberately articulated to oneself even as one practices to speaking to them. This simple procedure, in Gentile’s view, gets easier and easier as one practices more. In many ways, the book is a good reminder that practicing ethics and looking at the broader consequences can help convince other people (such as workmates) to play by the rules. Pointing out the benefits of a given action is the easiest way to getting others to agree with one’s view and position. It is easier to agree with Gentiles’ propositions especially considering her assumption that most people want to do the right thing most of the time. If one combines such factors with the reasons why a certain action/decision is right, it becomes much easier to convince others to agree with one’s viewpoint. Whereas there are many points to take home after reading this book, the most important the conceptualization of values from a utilitarian perspective. They are thus constructively objectified to act as important business tools. Indeed, the book gives insight on how to give credibility to one’s voice whenever faced with ethical dilemmas, and how to do so. At any instance, it is imperative to let one’s voice add to the workplace’s shared values.

While the book is a great read, it appears repetitive to a great extent, more so on the place of values and one’s voice, concepts that she seems to repetitiously mention in most of the chapters. Besides, it has a slow start as it takes too long to get to the actual topic; a reader who is not keen would easily miss the point. Gentile explores a great concept, but the execution is somehow wanting.