Review the Learning Resources this week to deepen your understanding of ethics and positive social change.
Chose a topic from the following list for this Discussion:
Death Penalty as Crime Deterrent
Guns as Crime Deterrent and Capital Punishment
Guantanamo Prison and Torture
Classifying Crimes by Severity
Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
Consider the ethical implications related to the topic you selected and the articles you read about that topic.
Post the following:
Describe the topic you selected.
Describe what roles forensic psychology professionals may play in relation to the topic you selected.
Describe the ethical concerns related to the topic you selected.
Based on the topic you selected, describe what you would change, add, or improve to make society a better and safer place to live (i.e., how to catalyze positive social 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
Topic: Guantanamo Prison and Torture
Guantanamo Prison and its use of torture have been highly controversial topics in recent years. Located on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, this detention facility has been used to hold individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism. The ethical concerns surrounding Guantanamo and torture raise questions about human rights, due process, and the role of forensic psychology professionals in such contexts.
Forensic psychology professionals can play several roles in relation to Guantanamo and its use of torture:
Psychological Assessment: Forensic psychologists can assess the mental health and psychological well-being of detainees to determine the effects of prolonged detention, isolation, and potential torture on their mental state.
Interrogation Techniques: Forensic psychologists can advise on effective and ethical interrogation techniques that do not involve torture or cruel treatment. They can provide training to interrogators on how to obtain reliable information without resorting to abusive practices.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration: If detainees are released from Guantanamo, forensic psychologists can play a crucial role in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This includes assessing their psychological needs, providing therapy, and supporting their transition back to normal life.
The ethical concerns related to Guantanamo and torture are numerous:
Human Rights Violations: The indefinite detention and use of torture violate fundamental human rights, including the right to a fair trial, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, and due process.
Lack of Accountability: The lack of transparency and accountability surrounding Guantanamo raises concerns about violations of international law and the potential for unchecked abuse of power.
Ethical Responsibility: Forensic psychology professionals involved in these contexts face ethical dilemmas. They must balance their duty to the legal system with their responsibility to uphold ethical standards, such as promoting human rights and avoiding harm to individuals.
To catalyze positive social change regarding Guantanamo and torture, several changes, additions, or improvements are necessary:
Transparency and Accountability: There should be increased transparency regarding the operations and conditions at Guantanamo. Independent oversight mechanisms should be established to ensure accountability for any violations of human rights.
End Use of Torture: Torture should be unequivocally condemned and prohibited in all circumstances. International standards should be upheld, ensuring that detainees are treated humanely and provided with due process rights.
Rehabilitation Programs: For detainees who are released, comprehensive rehabilitation programs should be implemented. These programs should focus on addressing any psychological trauma resulting from their experiences and helping them reintegrate into society successfully.
Promote Human Rights Education: Society needs to prioritize human rights education to foster a culture that values and respects fundamental human rights. This includes educating individuals about the importance of due process, fair treatment, and the prohibition of torture.
By implementing these changes and improvements, society can move towards a better and safer place to live. Upholding human rights, promoting accountability, and prioritizing rehabilitation will contribute to a more just and compassionate society that values the dignity and well-being of all individuals.
