Imagine you were attempting to cross through the intersection shown in the video. Why would it be beneficial for you to adopt Simmel’s blasé attitude? Would this be easy or difficult for you to do, and why?
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/travel/2017/05/15/you-have-see-worlds-busiest-intersection/101708966/
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
Embracing Simmel’s Blasé Attitude at the World’s Busiest Intersection
In the bustling streets of the world’s busiest intersection, adopting Georg Simmel’s blasé attitude could prove to be highly advantageous. Simmel’s concept of the blasé attitude refers to a state of being indifferent or emotionally detached in response to overwhelming stimuli, such as the constant flow of pedestrians and vehicles in a chaotic urban environment like the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan.
Benefits of Embracing the Blasé Attitude
1. Reduced Stress and Anxiety: By cultivating a blasé attitude, one can detach themselves from the sensory overload and fast-paced environment of the intersection, thereby reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
2. Improved Focus and Decision-Making: Maintaining a sense of emotional detachment can help individuals stay focused on navigating through the crowd and making quick decisions without being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of activity.
3. Efficient Navigation: Embracing a blasé attitude allows individuals to move through the intersection with a sense of calmness and composure, enabling them to navigate more efficiently and safely.
Ease of Adopting the Blasé Attitude
Adopting Simmel’s blasé attitude at a chaotic intersection like Shibuya Crossing could be both easy and difficult, depending on individual temperament and prior experiences. For some, it may come naturally due to their background in busy urban environments or their ability to remain composed in crowded spaces. However, for others who are not accustomed to such sensory overload, maintaining emotional detachment might pose a challenge.
Factors that could influence the ease of adopting the blasé attitude include:
– Personality Traits: Individuals with a more laid-back or resilient personality may find it easier to remain indifferent in chaotic situations.
– Cultural Background: Those from cultures that emphasize composure and self-control in public spaces may be more adept at adopting a blasé attitude.
– Previous Exposure: Individuals who have experience navigating busy intersections or crowded areas may find it easier to maintain emotional detachment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, embracing Georg Simmel’s blasé attitude at the world’s busiest intersection can offer numerous benefits, including reduced stress, improved focus, and efficient navigation. While it may require a degree of emotional detachment and composure, the ability to adopt this attitude can enhance one’s experience and safety when traversing through chaotic urban environments like Shibuya Crossing. By cultivating a sense of indifference towards the overwhelming stimuli, individuals can navigate through the intersection with ease, confidence, and efficiency.
