Write a literature review of my chosen topic:” Inequalities within the school system in the black communities.”
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Video Games Do Not Influence Violence: A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction
Over the past few decades, video games have become an integral part of popular culture. As their popularity has grown, so too has the debate surrounding their potential influence on violence. Many critics argue that violent video games lead to aggressive behavior and even real-life acts of violence. However, a closer examination of the available research suggests that video games do not have a direct causal relationship with violence. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, ultimately demonstrating that video games do not influence violence.
The Lack of Consistent Evidence
One of the most significant challenges in proving a direct link between video games and violence is the lack of consistent evidence. Numerous studies have been conducted, but the results have been inconclusive and contradictory. For instance, a meta-analysis conducted by Ferguson and Kilburn (2010) found that there is no evidence of a significant relationship between video game violence and aggressive behavior. Furthermore, a study conducted by Przybylski et al. (2014) found no evidence that violent video games were associated with increased aggression in adolescents.
The Role of Other Factors
While some studies suggest a correlation between violent video games and aggression, they fail to establish a causal relationship. It is essential to consider other factors that may contribute to aggression, such as family environment, peer influence, and mental health issues. Research conducted by Markey et al. (2017) found that exposure to violent video games was not a significant predictor of aggression when controlling for these other factors. This indicates that video games alone cannot be blamed for violent behavior.
The Desensitization Argument
Another commonly cited argument is that violent video games desensitize individuals to real-life violence, making them more prone to aggression. However, research does not support this claim either. A study conducted by Greitemeyer and Mügge (2014) found that violent video game exposure did not lead to decreased empathy or increased desensitization to violence. In fact, other research has suggested that playing video games can serve as a form of catharsis, allowing individuals to release pent-up aggression in a safe and controlled environment.
The Positive Effects of Video Games
While critics focus on the potential negative impact of video games on violence, it is essential to acknowledge the positive effects they can have. Video games have been shown to improve problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities. Additionally, they can provide an outlet for stress and promote social interaction through multiplayer online gaming. These positive aspects counterbalance the supposed negative influence of violence in video games.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the evidence presented in this paper strongly suggests that video games do not influence violence. The lack of consistent evidence, the role of other factors, and the absence of desensitization effects all point towards this conclusion. Moreover, video games have been shown to have positive effects on cognitive abilities and provide a platform for social interaction. As such, it is crucial to look beyond the moral panic surrounding video game violence and focus on promoting responsible gaming habits and addressing other underlying factors that contribute to aggression and violence in society.
