Outline the main causes of and problems with deforestation. Explain the relationship between deforestation and climate change.
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
Title: Deforestation: Unveiling Causes, Consequences, and the Climate Change Connection
Introduction: Deforestation, the deliberate removal of forests or significant tree cover, has become a global concern due to its detrimental impact on the environment. This essay aims to outline the main causes of deforestation, highlight the problems associated with it, and explore the intricate relationship between deforestation and climate change.
Thesis Statement: Deforestation occurs due to a combination of human activities such as agricultural expansion, logging, and urbanization. It leads to numerous problems, including loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the effects of climate change.
I. Causes of Deforestation:
Agricultural Expansion:
Clearing land for commercial agriculture, particularly for cash crops like soybeans, palm oil, and cattle ranching.
Small-scale subsistence farming also contributes to deforestation in some regions.
Logging:
Unsustainable logging practices for timber and wood products.
Illegal logging exacerbates the problem, driven by demand for valuable hardwoods.
Urbanization and Infrastructure Development:
Expanding cities and construction projects encroach upon forested areas.
Road construction facilitates access to previously inaccessible forests.
Mining and Extraction:
Mining activities, including surface mining and extraction of minerals and fossil fuels.
Deforestation occurs due to the need for infrastructure and access to resources.
II. Problems with Deforestation:
Loss of Biodiversity:
Forests are home to a significant portion of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
Deforestation disrupts ecosystems, leading to habitat loss and species extinction.
Soil Degradation:
Clearing trees exposes the soil to erosion, reducing fertility and long-term productivity.
Without tree cover, rainfall can wash away topsoil, leading to land degradation.
Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
Deforestation releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Disrupted Water Cycles:
Forests play a crucial role in regulating water cycles and maintaining hydrological balance.
Deforestation disrupts rainfall patterns, leading to altered water availability and increased risks of floods and droughts.
III. Deforestation and Climate Change:
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect:
Increased CO2 levels from deforestation contribute to the greenhouse effect.
The release of stored carbon intensifies global warming and climate change.
Feedback Loops:
Forest loss disrupts regional climates, affecting rainfall patterns and temperature regulation.
Altered climatic conditions further impact remaining forests, potentially leading to more deforestation.
Loss of Carbon Sinks:
Forests act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis.
Deforestation reduces the capacity to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 levels.
Conclusion:
Deforestation is a complex issue driven by multiple human activities with severe consequences for the environment. Its relationship with climate change is undeniable, as deforestation contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions and disrupts regional climates. Addressing deforestation requires sustainable land-use practices, conservation efforts, and international cooperation to mitigate its impact on climate change and preserve the invaluable benefits provided by forests.
