Present a Kantian OR Utilitarian argument in favor OR against of IVF and surrogacy.
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 Solution
Sample Solution
A Utilitarian Argument in Favor of IVF and Surrogacy
Introduction
In discussing the ethical implications of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, utilitarianism provides a consequentialist framework to assess the overall happiness and well-being of individuals involved. This essay will present a utilitarian argument in favor of IVF and surrogacy, highlighting the potential benefits and positive consequences that can arise from these reproductive technologies.
Utilitarianism and the Greatest Happiness Principle
Utilitarianism, founded by Jeremy Bentham and developed by John Stuart Mill, posits that the morality of an action is determined by its overall consequences in maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering. This ethical theory is grounded in the principle of the greatest happiness, which asserts that actions should aim to produce the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.
Argument in Favor of IVF and Surrogacy
Utilitarianism supports IVF and surrogacy due to the potential positive consequences they may generate:
- Maximizing Happiness: IVF and surrogacy allow individuals who are unable to conceive naturally to experience the joy of parenthood. By enabling couples or individuals to have children, IVF and surrogacy contribute to their happiness, satisfaction, and sense of fulfillment. This happiness extends not only to the parents but also to the child who is welcomed into a loving and wanted family.
- Promoting Autonomy and Choice: IVF and surrogacy empower individuals to exercise their reproductive autonomy and make choices about their own lives. By providing options for those facing infertility, these reproductive technologies offer a chance to fulfill a fundamental human desire to have biological offspring. This freedom of choice aligns with utilitarian values, as it promotes individual happiness and self-determination.
- Advancing Medical Progress: IVF and surrogacy have propelled advancements in reproductive medicine and technology. The research and development associated with these practices have led to improvements in fertility treatments, genetic screening, and medical knowledge surrounding reproductive health. This progress benefits not only those directly involved in IVF and surrogacy but also individuals facing other reproductive challenges in need of medical intervention.
- Supporting Economic Growth: IVF and surrogacy can contribute to economic growth by generating revenue for fertility clinics, medical practitioners, and surrogacy agencies. This economic benefit can extend to various sectors, such as healthcare, tourism, and legal services, creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic activity. This positive economic impact aligns with utilitarian principles of promoting overall societal well-being.
Conclusion
Utilitarianism provides a persuasive ethical argument in favor of IVF and surrogacy by focusing on the potential positive consequences and overall happiness they can generate. By enabling individuals to experience the joy of parenthood, promoting autonomy and choice, advancing medical progress, and supporting economic growth, these reproductive technologies align with utilitarian principles of maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering. However, it is important to acknowledge that utilitarianism does not consider individual rights or potential negative consequences, which should also be taken into account when evaluating the ethical implications of IVF and surrogacy.
