Human Ecology Research

by | Oct 31, 2024 | essay

Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity, Pollution, Water Scarcity, Human Population, and Energy. If you are not sure if your topic is a relevant issue, obtain preapproval.

Give a complete explanation of why your topic is a human ecology issue and assess different points of view, assumptions, and/or arguments regarding your topic.
Describe the issue in terms of its effect on the interrelationship of the physical, biological, and ecological systems.
Describe the impacts on the environment resulting from human decisions related to this issue.

 

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.


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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.

Climate Change: A Defining Human Ecology Issue

Climate change is a paramount human ecology issue, fundamentally altering the intricate web of relationships between humans and the natural world. It transcends the realm of simple environmental concern and directly impacts the physical, biological, and social systems that sustain human life.

Human Ecology Perspective:

Climate change embodies the core principles of human ecology by demonstrating the complex interplay between human activities and environmental systems. Human decisions, particularly related to energy production and consumption, are the primary drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global temperature increases and cascading effects on the planet.

Points of View and Arguments:

  • Scientific Consensus: The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is real, human-caused, and poses a significant threat to the planet. This view is supported by a vast body of scientific evidence, including rising global temperatures, melting glaciers, sea-level rise, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

  • Skepticism: A small minority, often with political or economic motivations, continue to express skepticism about climate change. Some argue that the evidence is inconclusive, that natural variations are responsible, or that the impacts are overstated.

  • Solutions: There is wide agreement that addressing climate change requires a global response. Differing viewpoints exist on the best solutions, ranging from individual behavioral changes to government regulations, technological innovations, and international cooperation.

Impacts on Physical, Biological, and Ecological Systems:

  • Physical Systems: Climate change is driving shifts in global weather patterns, causing more extreme events like hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and ecosystems.

  • Biological Systems: Changing temperatures and weather patterns are disrupting ecosystems, causing shifts in species distribution, habitat loss, and increased extinction rates. Ocean acidification is harming marine life, while rising temperatures are affecting plant and animal populations.

  • Ecological Systems: Climate change is altering the balance of ecosystems, disrupting food webs, impacting biodiversity, and reducing the resilience of natural systems to further change.

Climate Change: A Defining Human Ecology Issue

Climate change is a paramount human ecology issue, fundamentally altering the intricate web of relationships between humans and the natural world. It transcends the realm of simple environmental concern and directly impacts the physical, biological, and social systems that sustain human life.

Human Ecology Perspective:

Climate change embodies the core principles of human ecology by demonstrating the complex interplay between human activities and environmental systems. Human decisions, particularly related to energy production and consumption, are the primary drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global temperature increases and cascading effects on the planet.

Points of View and Arguments:

  • Scientific Consensus: The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is real, human-caused, and poses a significant threat to the planet. This view is supported by a vast body of scientific evidence, including rising global temperatures, melting glaciers, sea-level rise, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

  • Skepticism: A small minority, often with political or economic motivations, continue to express skepticism about climate change. Some argue that the evidence is inconclusive, that natural variations are responsible, or that the impacts are overstated.

  • Solutions: There is wide agreement that addressing climate change requires a global response. Differing viewpoints exist on the best solutions, ranging from individual behavioral changes to government regulations, technological innovations, and international cooperation.

Impacts on Physical, Biological, and Ecological Systems:

  • Physical Systems: Climate change is driving shifts in global weather patterns, causing more extreme events like hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and ecosystems.

  • Biological Systems: Changing temperatures and weather patterns are disrupting ecosystems, causing shifts in species distribution, habitat loss, and increased extinction rates. Ocean acidification is harming marine life, while rising temperatures are affecting plant and animal populations.

  • Ecological Systems: Climate change is altering the balance of ecosystems, disrupting food webs, impacting biodiversity, and reducing the resilience of natural systems to further change.

Impacts from Human Decisions:

  • Fossil Fuel Dependence: Human reliance on fossil fuels for energy production is a primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Deforestation: Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, and development releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and reduces Earth’s capacity to absorb it.
  • Industrial Processes: Industrial activities release greenhouse gases and contribute to air and water pollution.
  • Consumerism: Our consumption patterns, particularly in developed countries, drive demand for goods and services that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion:

Climate change is a defining human ecology issue, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humans and their environment. Understanding the complex interplay between human actions and environmental systems is crucial for formulating effective responses to this pressing global challenge. Addressing climate change will require collective action, innovative solutions, and a shift towards a more sustainable and responsible approach to living on our planet.

 

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