How does the greenhouse effect function, and what role does it play in the process of global warming?
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 Greenhouse Effect and its Role in Global Warming
Introduction
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that plays a critical role in maintaining the Earth’s temperature. However, human activities have significantly intensified this effect, leading to an increase in global temperatures. Understanding the greenhouse effect and its relationship to global warming is crucial for comprehending the impact of human actions on climate change.
The Greenhouse Effect
Definition: The greenhouse effect refers to the process by which certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping into space.
Key Factors: Several gases, known as greenhouse gases (GHGs), contribute to the greenhouse effect. The primary GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.
Mechanism: When solar radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, some of it is absorbed, while the rest is reflected back into space. GHGs in the atmosphere trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation, causing the Earth to retain heat and maintain a stable temperature conducive to supporting life.
Natural Balance: In its natural state, the greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining Earth’s average temperature at around 15°C (59°F). Without it, our planet would be too cold to sustain life.
Global Warming
Definition: Global warming refers to the long-term increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of GHGs.
Human Impact: Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, have significantly increased GHG emissions. The excessive release of GHGs disrupts the natural balance of the greenhouse effect, leading to a rise in global temperatures.
Consequences: The consequences of global warming are far-reaching and include more frequent and intense heatwaves, rising sea levels, melting ice caps and glaciers, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and droughts, disruptions in ecosystems, and threats to biodiversity.
Feedback Loops: Global warming can trigger feedback loops that further intensify climate change. For example, as global temperatures rise, permafrost thawing releases large amounts of methane, a potent GHG, further exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
Conclusion
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon necessary for sustaining life on Earth. However, human activities have disturbed this delicate balance by increasing the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere. This disruption has led to global warming, causing adverse effects on our planet and its inhabitants. It is crucial to acknowledge the role of human influence on climate change and take immediate action to mitigate GHG emissions and minimize the consequences of global warming. By understanding and addressing the relationship between the greenhouse effect and global warming, we can work towards a sustainable future for generations to come.
