After having read and watched the videos on Kant, as well as those on suicide and euthanasia,why do you think that Kant opposed suicide? Are his reasonings sound? What about theHippocratic Oath on doctors, are they to be “means” to end someone’s life?
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
Kant’s Stance on Suicide: A Critical Analysis
Introduction:
Immanuel Kant, a prominent figure in philosophy, held a firm opposition to suicide based on his ethical framework, particularly his deontological perspective outlined in the categorical imperative. This essay aims to delve into Kant’s reasoning behind opposing suicide, evaluate the soundness of his arguments, and discuss the implications of the Hippocratic Oath on doctors regarding end-of-life decisions.
Kant’s Opposition to Suicide:
1. Violation of Categorical Imperative:
– Kant’s moral philosophy revolves around the idea of treating individuals as ends in themselves rather than as means to an end. Suicide, according to Kant, involves using oneself as a mere means to escape suffering or difficulties, thereby violating the principle of treating oneself with respect and dignity.
2. Universalizability Test:
– Kant’s categorical imperative requires individuals to act according to maxims that could be universal laws. If everyone were to commit suicide when faced with challenges, society would cease to exist. Therefore, suicide fails the test of universalizability.
3. Intrinsic Value of Life:
– Kant argued that life has intrinsic value and dignity, which should be respected unconditionally. Taking one’s own life diminishes the inherent worth of human life and undermines the sanctity of moral principles.
Evaluation of Kant’s Reasoning:
Soundness of Kant’s Arguments:
– While Kant’s emphasis on the dignity of human life and the universalizability of moral actions is commendable, his absolute prohibition of suicide may be considered overly rigid and lacking in compassion for individuals suffering from unbearable circumstances.
– Critics argue that Kant’s approach fails to account for situations where suicide might be an autonomous choice made by a rational agent facing extreme pain, terminal illness, or irremediable suffering.
Hippocratic Oath and End-of-Life Decisions:
1. Principle of Non-Maleficence:
– The Hippocratic Oath traditionally includes a commitment to “do no harm” and prioritize the well-being of patients. Some interpretations suggest that actively ending a patient’s life would violate this principle.
2. Role of Doctors:
– Physicians are typically tasked with healing, alleviating suffering, and promoting health. While respecting patients’ autonomy and providing compassionate care are paramount, actively causing death may conflict with the core values of medical ethics.
3. Contemporary Views:
– In modern medical ethics, there is ongoing debate surrounding end-of-life care, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide. Ethical guidelines emphasize patient autonomy, beneficence, and informed decision-making while upholding professional integrity and moral responsibilities.
Conclusion:
Kant’s opposition to suicide stems from his deontological ethical framework, emphasizing respect for human dignity and adherence to moral principles. While Kant’s reasoning offers valuable insights into the ethical complexities of suicide, contemporary perspectives on autonomy, suffering, and end-of-life decisions call for nuanced considerations that balance ethical principles with compassion and empathy.
By critically examining Kant’s stance on suicide within the broader context of ethical dilemmas and medical practices, we can foster meaningful discussions on morality, autonomy, and the value of human life in challenging circumstances.
