What is a right to a “decent minimum” level of health care?
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
The right to a “decent minimum” level of healthcare refers to the notion that every individual should have access to a basic standard of healthcare services necessary for their well-being and the maintenance of their health. It recognizes that healthcare is a fundamental human right and that societies have an obligation to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to essential healthcare services.
In practical terms, a “decent minimum” level of healthcare means that individuals should have access to a range of necessary medical services, including preventive care, primary care, emergency care, and essential treatments for common illnesses and injuries. This includes access to healthcare professionals, medications, diagnostic tests, and medical facilities.
The concept of a “decent minimum” level of healthcare is often associated with the idea of healthcare as a public good. It implies that governments and societies have a responsibility to provide healthcare services and establish systems that ensure universal access, particularly for those who may be disadvantaged or unable to afford private healthcare.
The notion of a “decent minimum” level of healthcare is often subjective and can vary across different societies and countries. Factors such as the level of economic development, available resources, and cultural values can influence what is considered to be the minimum standard of healthcare. However, the principle remains the same: it is the responsibility of society to ensure that every individual has access to a level of healthcare that is sufficient to protect their health and well-being.
It is important to note that the right to a “decent minimum” level of healthcare does not necessarily mean that all healthcare services must be provided free of charge. The concept recognizes that healthcare systems may involve various mechanisms, such as public or private insurance, to fund and deliver healthcare services. However, it emphasizes that regardless of the specific mechanisms, no individual should be denied access to essential healthcare services based on their ability to pay.
In summary, the right to a “decent minimum” level of healthcare asserts that every individual has a fundamental right to access essential healthcare services necessary to maintain their health and well-being. It highlights the responsibility of societies to establish and maintain healthcare systems that ensure universal access to these services, regardless of an individual’s socioeconomic status.
