Write a 5 page paper discussing this article Meditations on First Philosophy” by René Descartes
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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
Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes
Introduction
René Descartes, a prominent philosopher of the 17th century, published his work “Meditations on First Philosophy” in 1641. This philosophical treatise is considered one of the most influential works in the history of Western philosophy. In this paper, we will delve into Descartes’ meditations, exploring his method of doubt, his quest for certainty, and his famous declaration “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
Meditation I: Method of Doubt
Descartes begins his meditations by employing a method of doubt, where he questions the validity of all his beliefs and senses. He argues that many beliefs are based on shaky foundations and can be deceptive. By systematically doubting everything, Descartes aims to strip away all uncertainties and arrive at indubitable truths. This method sets the stage for his philosophical inquiry into the nature of reality and knowledge.
Meditation II: Cogito, Ergo Sum
In the second meditation, Descartes arrives at his famous conclusion “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am). He asserts that even if all his sensory perceptions and beliefs are false, the fact that he is thinking proves his existence as a thinking being. This foundational truth serves as the starting point for Descartes’ quest for certainty and lays the groundwork for his subsequent meditations on the existence of God and the nature of reality.
Meditation III: Existence of God
Descartes argues for the existence of God in the third meditation, positing that the idea of an infinitely perfect being could not have originated from himself, as he is finite and imperfect. Therefore, he concludes that God must exist as the source of this idea. Descartes’ ontological argument for the existence of God is a key aspect of his philosophy and underpins his belief in a rational and ordered universe.
Meditation IV: Nature of Reality
In the fourth meditation, Descartes examines the nature of reality, distinguishing between the mind (res cogitans) and the body (res extensa). He argues that the mind and body are distinct substances with different attributes, yet they interact in a coordinated manner. Descartes’ dualism lays the foundation for modern philosophy of mind and has sparked debates about the relationship between consciousness and the physical world.
Conclusion
“Meditations on First Philosophy” by René Descartes is a seminal work that continues to influence philosophical thought to this day. Descartes’ method of doubt, his cogito argument, and his exploration of the existence of God and the nature of reality have shaped the course of Western philosophy. By challenging traditional beliefs and seeking indubitable truths, Descartes set a standard for rational inquiry and critical thinking that resonates across centuries. His meditations invite readers to engage with fundamental questions about knowledge, existence, and the nature of reality, making this work a timeless masterpiece in the history of philosophy.
