In 3 pages, explain how we make the real world via everyday interaction. Use our lecture material and/or discussion of thinkers like Goffman, Cabral, and others if you like to support your analysis.
1. Have an aim statement.
2. Explain our meaning of the term “realize” and use an example to illustrate your point (e.g., what it takes to “realize” Halloween, to “do” some social norm or practice like “student-ting” or some institution like marriage, university, etc.)
3. Explain the idea that doing everyday life requires that we carry around and use much social information and knowledge. This includes information and knowledge about social norms, institutions, practices, and most generally about people/places/things and their meanings.
a. Explain the above.
b. What does using social information/knowledge have to do with realizing and reinforcing anything?
c. What’s the significance of much social information being taken as “common” sense and knowledge? How does “commonality” influence how we act and interact in the world?
d. Use concrete examples and explain them in supporting your explanation.
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
The Creation of the Real World: Everyday Interactions and Social Realization
Aim Statement
The aim of this essay is to explore how we make the real world through everyday interactions. Drawing on concepts from sociologists such as Erving Goffman and Paulo Freire, as well as our lecture material, this essay will examine the process of social realization and the role of social information and knowledge in this process. Through concrete examples, it will demonstrate how the commonality of social information influences our actions and interactions in the world.
Understanding “Realize”
To understand how we make the real world, we must first clarify the meaning of the term “realize” in this context. In this essay, “realize” refers to the process by which we bring something into existence or make it a reality through our actions and interactions. It involves the transformation of an idea, concept, or belief into a tangible experience or observable phenomenon.
To illustrate this point, let us consider the example of Halloween. Halloween exists as an abstract concept in our collective consciousness, derived from cultural traditions and popular media. However, it is through our collective actions and interactions that Halloween is realized. We put on costumes, decorate our houses, and participate in trick-or-treating. Through these practices, we bring Halloween to life, making it a tangible experience that is shared and understood by others.
The Role of Social Information and Knowledge
Doing everyday life requires us to carry around and use a vast amount of social information and knowledge. This includes understanding social norms, institutions, practices, and the meanings attributed to people, places, and things. Without this social information and knowledge, our actions would lack meaning and coherence.
Using social information and knowledge is essential for realizing and reinforcing anything. It provides us with a framework within which we can interpret and make sense of our experiences. For example, when we engage in the practice of “student-ting,” we draw upon our understanding of what it means to be a student, the expectations placed upon us, and the norms governing student behavior. This knowledge guides our actions and helps us navigate the social world.
The significance of much social information being taken as “common” sense and knowledge lies in its ability to shape our actions and interactions. Common knowledge acts as a shared language that allows us to communicate effectively with others. By relying on commonly understood meanings and norms, we can coordinate our behavior and engage in social interactions smoothly.
For instance, consider the act of shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time. This gesture is widely recognized as a sign of respect and friendliness in many cultures. By conforming to this social norm, we signal our willingness to engage in a positive interaction. The commonality of this knowledge ensures that individuals can easily interpret and respond to such signals, facilitating social cohesion.
Examples of Social Information in Action
Concrete examples further illustrate the role of social information in shaping our actions and interactions. Take the institution of marriage, for instance. Marriage is not simply a legal contract; it carries deep symbolic meaning in society. The expectations associated with marriage, such as fidelity and commitment, are ingrained in our collective consciousness through socialization processes. These shared understandings guide individuals’ behaviors within marriages, reinforcing societal norms surrounding relationships.
Similarly, universities provide another example of how social information influences our actions. When students enter university campuses, they enter a space governed by specific norms and practices. These include attending classes, studying for exams, and engaging with peers and professors. By adhering to these expectations, students contribute to the realization of the university as an institution of higher learning.
In conclusion, everyday interactions play a crucial role in making the real world. Through our actions and interactions, we bring abstract concepts into existence, turning them into tangible experiences shared by others. This process relies on the use of social information and knowledge about social norms, institutions, practices, and meanings. The commonality of this information facilitates coordination and understanding among individuals, shaping their actions and interactions in the world. Understanding how we make the real world through everyday interactions allows us to appreciate the power of collective action in shaping society.
