Do the existentialists provide a suitable alternative to the ethical theories of the past? What do you think they get right/wrong in their approach?
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: Exploring the Suitability of Existentialism as an Alternative Ethical Theory
Introduction:
Existentialism emerged as a philosophical movement in the 20th century, challenging traditional ethical theories and offering a fresh perspective on human existence and moral responsibility. This essay will assess whether existentialism provides a suitable alternative to the ethical theories of the past. It will examine the strengths and weaknesses of existentialism’s approach to ethics, evaluating what it gets right and where it falls short.
Thesis Statement:
While existentialism offers valuable insights into individual freedom and personal responsibility, its focus on subjective experience and rejection of overarching moral principles limits its suitability as a comprehensive ethical theory.
Body:
Emphasis on Individual Freedom and Responsibility:
Existentialism places a central focus on individual freedom and personal responsibility. It acknowledges that human beings are free to define their own values and make choices based on their unique circumstances. Existentialists argue that individuals must take ownership of their actions and accept the consequences that arise from them. This emphasis on personal agency resonates with the human need for autonomy and self-determination.
Critique of External Authority:
Existentialists criticize ethical theories that rely on external authority, whether religious or philosophical, to dictate moral principles. They argue that blindly following predefined moral codes undermines individual authenticity and denies the complexities of human existence. Existentialists encourage individuals to confront the existential questions of existence, meaning, and purpose independently, fostering a deeper engagement with one’s own values and ethics.
Subjectivity and Relativity of Ethics:
Existentialism recognizes the subjective nature of ethics, acknowledging that moral values can vary from person to person and across different cultural contexts. This perspective challenges the notion of universal moral principles and invites individuals to construct their own ethical frameworks based on their unique experiences and perspectives. However, this subjectivity can lead to moral relativism, where individuals are left without a shared moral language to address ethical dilemmas collectively.
Neglect of Interpersonal Ethics:
Existentialism tends to focus primarily on individual ethics, often neglecting the importance of interpersonal relationships and societal obligations. The emphasis on personal freedom risks undermining collective responsibilities and the potential for ethical frameworks to guide behavior in a way that promotes social cohesion and justice. By downplaying the significance of communal ethics, existentialism falls short in addressing larger societal issues.
Conclusion:
While existentialism offers valuable insights into personal freedom, responsibility, and the critique of external authority, its subjective approach limits its suitability as a comprehensive ethical theory. By emphasizing individual autonomy without sufficient regard for interpersonal ethics and communal obligations, existentialism neglects important aspects necessary for a thriving society. While it is crucial to consider existentialist perspectives in personal decision-making, a more holistic ethical theory that incorporates both individual agency and collective responsibility would provide a more suitable alternative to the ethical theories of the past.
