A man killed someone. If the world believes in determinism(no free will), so the outcomes of the actions are predetermined. What will happen to the criminal? What would the society respond? a. Make the criminal be rehabilitated.
b. Criminal must be punished.
c. You wont punish nor rehabilitate the criminal.
d. You will punish the criminal(ipakulong) then offer rehabilitation.
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
The Ethics of Punishment and Rehabilitation in a Deterministic World
In a world where the concept of determinism reigns supreme, the notion of free will is called into question. If all actions are predetermined by prior causes, what implications does this have for the criminal justice system and how society chooses to respond to crimes such as murder? Should the focus be on punishment, rehabilitation, or a combination of both? Let us delve into these complex ethical dilemmas and explore the potential outcomes.
Thesis Statement
In a deterministic world, where free will is deemed illusory, the focus should shift towards a balanced approach of punishing criminals for their actions while also offering avenues for rehabilitation to address the root causes of criminal behavior.
Punishment vs. Rehabilitation
Punishment
Punishment has long been a cornerstone of the criminal justice system, serving as a deterrent to others and seeking retribution for crimes committed. However, in a deterministic framework where individuals may not have complete control over their actions, the concept of punitive measures becomes more nuanced. If one’s actions are predetermined by external factors, can we hold individuals fully accountable for their crimes?
Rehabilitation
On the other hand, rehabilitation aims to address the underlying issues that may have led individuals to commit crimes in the first place. By offering support, therapy, and education, rehabilitation seeks to reintegrate offenders back into society as productive members. In a deterministic world, rehabilitation becomes crucial in addressing the root causes of criminal behavior rather than solely focusing on punitive measures.
Society’s Response
Make the Criminal be Rehabilitated
Advocates for rehabilitation argue that individuals should be given the opportunity to address the factors that led to their criminal behavior. By providing access to therapy, education, and job training, society can work towards preventing future crimes and fostering a sense of empathy and understanding.
Criminal Must be Punished
Those in favor of strict punishment may argue that regardless of determinism, individuals should still be held accountable for their actions. Punishment serves as a form of justice and retribution for the victims and their families, acting as a deterrent to others who may consider committing similar crimes.
You Won’t Punish nor Rehabilitate the Criminal
Some may take a more passive approach, arguing that in a deterministic world, outcomes are predetermined, and therefore, intervention in the form of punishment or rehabilitation may not significantly alter the course of events. This fatalistic view raises questions about the efficacy of any form of response to criminal behavior.
You Will Punish the Criminal then Offer Rehabilitation
A balanced approach could involve a combination of punishment and rehabilitation. By holding individuals accountable for their actions through punitive measures and subsequently offering avenues for rehabilitation, society can address both the need for justice and the importance of addressing the root causes of criminal behavior.
Conclusion
In a deterministic world, the ethics of punishment and rehabilitation take on new significance. While the debate between punishment and rehabilitation persists, a balanced approach that considers both aspects may offer a more comprehensive response to criminal behavior. By acknowledging the complexities of determinism and its implications for individual agency, society can strive towards a more just and empathetic criminal justice system.
