In your own words, define paternalism and explain the difference between strong and weak paternalism by using two of your own examples.
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
Paternalism refers to the practice of making decisions or taking actions on behalf of others with the intention of promoting their well-being or preventing harm, even if it involves overriding their autonomy or choices. It involves a person or entity acting in a paternalistic manner, assuming the role of a guardian or protector.
The difference between strong and weak paternalism lies in the extent to which autonomy is infringed upon or overridden.
Strong paternalism occurs when decisions or actions are made for individuals without their consent, even if they are competent and capable of making their own choices. It involves overriding an individual’s autonomy based on the belief that their own judgment or decision-making capacity is flawed or insufficient. Strong paternalism is often considered more intrusive and limiting to personal freedoms.
Example 1: Seatbelt Laws One example of strong paternalism is the implementation of seatbelt laws. Governments enact regulations that require individuals to wear seatbelts while driving, even if some individuals may choose not to wear them. The rationale behind this is that wearing seatbelts significantly reduces the risk of severe injury or death in car accidents. Despite the potential infringement on personal autonomy, the law prioritizes the protection of individuals by mandating seatbelt use.
Example 2: Smoking Bans Another example of strong paternalism is the implementation of smoking bans in public spaces. Governments or establishments may enforce bans on smoking in areas like restaurants, bars, and public parks. These bans restrict an individual’s freedom to smoke in certain locations, aiming to protect the health and well-being of non-smokers who may be exposed to secondhand smoke. The decision to ban smoking is made for the greater good, even if it limits personal autonomy for smokers.
On the other hand, weak paternalism occurs when decisions or actions are made on behalf of individuals who are deemed incompetent or unable to make informed choices. Weak paternalism is often exercised with the intention of preventing harm or promoting well-being, but it is more limited in scope and respects individual autonomy whenever possible.
Example 1: Mandatory Vaccinations for Children An example of weak paternalism is the requirement for children to receive mandatory vaccinations. Governments may mandate specific vaccines to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and protect public health. Although parents have the freedom to make decisions regarding their child’s healthcare, the state intervenes to ensure that children receive vaccinations, as it is considered in the best interest of public safety and the child’s own health.
Example 2: Warning Labels on Cigarette Packages Another example of weak paternalism is the use of warning labels on cigarette packages. Governments may require tobacco companies to include explicit warnings about the health risks associated with smoking. While individuals have the freedom to choose whether to smoke or not, the inclusion of warning labels aims to provide information and promote informed decision-making, allowing individuals to make choices based on full awareness of the potential risks.
In summary, strong paternalism involves overriding an individual’s autonomy even when they are capable of making their own choices. Weak paternalism, on the other hand, is more limited and typically exercised when individuals are deemed incapable of making informed choices or when intervention is necessary to prevent harm or promote well-being.
