1. Differentiate between legal and ethical considerations and the role of the IRB.
2. Utilize knowledge of Research History, Codes, respect for person, beneficence, and justice when discussing vulnerable populations and IRB.
3. Analyze the need for diverse populations in research. Supports assertions with sound rationale.
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
1. Understanding Legal and Ethical Considerations in Research and the Role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
In the realm of research, legal and ethical considerations play distinct yet interconnected roles in safeguarding the rights and well-being of participants. Legal considerations are defined by laws, regulations, and institutional policies that dictate the conduct of research and protect the rights of individuals involved. Ethical considerations, on the other hand, encompass principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, guiding researchers to uphold moral standards and ethical conduct throughout the research process.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) serves as a critical oversight body responsible for reviewing research proposals to ensure compliance with both legal regulations and ethical standards. The IRB evaluates the potential risks and benefits of research studies, assesses the protection of vulnerable populations, and verifies that researchers adhere to ethical guidelines set forth by regulatory bodies such as the Belmont Report and the Declaration of Helsinki.
While legal considerations provide a framework for research conduct and participant protection, ethical considerations guide researchers in upholding principles of integrity, honesty, and respect for human dignity. The IRB acts as a gatekeeper to uphold these standards, promoting the welfare of research participants and ensuring that studies are conducted in a manner that is both legally compliant and ethically sound.
2. Research History, Codes, and Ethical Principles in Relation to Vulnerable Populations and IRB Oversight
When considering vulnerable populations in research, ethical principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice take on heightened importance. Vulnerable populations, including children, prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments, and economically disadvantaged groups, require special protections due to their diminished autonomy or increased susceptibility to harm.
The history of research ethics is marked by past violations of vulnerable populations’ rights, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Willowbrook Hepatitis Experiments. These unethical practices underscore the importance of codes such as the Nuremberg Code, the Belmont Report, and the Declaration of Helsinki in safeguarding the rights and welfare of research participants.
The principle of respect for persons emphasizes the autonomy and dignity of individuals, requiring informed consent and voluntary participation in research. Beneficence mandates that researchers maximize benefits and minimize harms to participants, particularly vulnerable populations who may be at greater risk. Justice dictates the fair selection of participants and equitable distribution of research burdens and benefits.
The IRB plays a crucial role in overseeing research involving vulnerable populations by assessing the ethical implications of studies, ensuring informed consent procedures are appropriate, and evaluating the risks and benefits to participants. By upholding ethical codes and principles, the IRB helps protect vulnerable populations from exploitation, harm, or undue influence in research settings.
3. Importance of Diverse Populations in Research: Promoting Inclusivity and Generalizability
Diversity in research populations is essential for promoting inclusivity, enhancing the validity of study findings, and ensuring that research outcomes can be generalized to broader populations. By including individuals from diverse backgrounds, demographics, and socioeconomic statuses, researchers can capture a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior, health outcomes, and social phenomena.
Research studies that lack diversity may lead to biased or limited conclusions that do not adequately represent the complexities of human experiences. Excluding diverse populations can perpetuate disparities in healthcare, education, and social services by neglecting the unique needs and perspectives of marginalized groups.
Including diverse populations in research not only strengthens the external validity and generalizability of findings but also fosters equity, diversity, and social justice in scientific inquiry. By embracing inclusivity and actively recruiting participants from varied backgrounds, researchers can enhance the relevance and impact of their studies while addressing health disparities, social inequalities, and systemic biases that may exist within research practices.
In conclusion, the need for diverse populations in research is paramount for advancing knowledge, promoting social equality, and upholding ethical standards. By embracing diversity, researchers can ensure that their studies are representative, inclusive, and impactful in addressing pressing societal issues and improving outcomes for all individuals.
