How do Haraway and Darwin differently elaborate theories of biological change?
The essay must range between 1,500 and 1,800 words
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
Elaborating Theories of Biological Change: A Comparison of Haraway and Darwin
Introduction
The understanding of biological change has evolved significantly over time, driven by the efforts of various scientists and theorists. Two prominent figures in this field are Donna Haraway and Charles Darwin. Both Haraway and Darwin have contributed to our understanding of biological change, but they approach the topic from different perspectives. This essay aims to compare and contrast the theories of biological change proposed by Haraway and Darwin, highlighting their key differences in terms of methodology, emphasis, and underlying assumptions. By examining these differences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of thought in the field of biology.
Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
Charles Darwin is widely recognized as the father of the theory of evolution. His groundbreaking work, particularly his book “On the Origin of Species,” laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.
Methodology
Darwin’s theory is rooted in observation and empirical evidence. He extensively studied the natural world, collecting specimens and making detailed observations during his voyage on HMS Beagle. Through careful analysis and comparison, Darwin proposed the concept of natural selection as the primary mechanism driving biological change.
Emphasis
Darwin’s theory places a strong emphasis on competition and adaptation. He argued that individuals within a population vary in their traits, and those traits that are favorable for survival and reproduction are more likely to be passed on to future generations. This process of natural selection leads to the gradual accumulation of advantageous traits over time.
Assumptions
Darwin’s theory assumes that variation exists within populations, and that this variation is heritable. It also assumes that there is competition for limited resources, leading to differential survival and reproduction rates. Additionally, Darwin assumed that evolution occurs gradually, through small incremental changes over long periods of time.
Donna Haraway’s Theory of Cyborg Evolution
Donna Haraway, a prominent feminist scholar and biologist, challenges traditional notions of biological change with her theory of cyborg evolution. Haraway’s work explores the intersections between technology, biology, and culture.
Methodology
Haraway’s theory is heavily influenced by postmodernism and feminism. She incorporates interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on fields such as science fiction, anthropology, and philosophy. Her methodology involves deconstructing traditional categories and boundaries to challenge existing power structures and hierarchies.
Emphasis
Haraway’s theory emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and machines. She argues that we should view organisms as complex systems that are constantly evolving in relation to their environments. Haraway challenges the idea of a fixed, natural order and instead highlights the fluidity and hybridity of life forms.
Assumptions
Haraway’s theory assumes that biology is not a fixed category but is entangled with culture and technology. She rejects the notion that there is a clear distinction between humans and other organisms, arguing that boundaries between species are porous. Haraway also challenges the assumption that progress is linear and instead embraces nonlinear processes of change.
Comparison and Contrast
Although both Haraway and Darwin contribute to our understanding of biological change, their theories differ significantly in methodology, emphasis, and underlying assumptions.
Methodology
Darwin: Darwin’s methodology is based on empirical observation, collecting data from the natural world to support his theory.
Haraway: Haraway’s methodology is interdisciplinary, incorporating various fields to challenge existing categories and power structures.
Emphasis
Darwin: Darwin’s theory emphasizes competition and adaptation as the driving forces of biological change.
Haraway: Haraway’s theory emphasizes interconnectedness and fluidity, challenging fixed boundaries between organisms.
Assumptions
Darwin: Darwin assumes that variation exists within populations, competition is prevalent, and evolution occurs gradually.
Haraway: Haraway challenges the assumption of fixed categories and boundaries, arguing for a more fluid and hybrid understanding of life forms.
Conclusion
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Donna Haraway’s theory of cyborg evolution both contribute to our understanding of biological change. However, they approach the topic from different perspectives, with distinct methodologies, emphases, and assumptions.
Darwin’s theory focuses on empirical observation and emphasizes competition and adaptation as drivers of biological change. He assumes that variation exists within populations and that evolution occurs gradually through natural selection.
In contrast, Haraway’s theory draws on interdisciplinary approaches, challenging traditional categories and power structures. She emphasizes interconnectedness and fluidity in organisms, rejecting fixed boundaries between species. Her theory assumes that biology is entangled with culture and technology.
