When it comes to human wellbeing, having high state capacity is bigger priority than having free, democratic institutions. Do you agree or disagree?
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 Importance of State Capacity: A Key Priority for Human Wellbeing
In the pursuit of human wellbeing, the debate between prioritizing high state capacity versus free and democratic institutions has been a contentious one. While both aspects play significant roles in societal development, this essay argues that having high state capacity should be a bigger priority than having free, democratic institutions. State capacity refers to the ability of a government to effectively implement policies, provide essential services, and address the needs of its citizens. By examining the advantages of high state capacity, such as improved service delivery, economic development, and social stability, it becomes evident that focusing on state capacity is crucial for promoting human wellbeing.
One of the primary reasons why high state capacity should be prioritized is its potential to enhance service delivery. When a government has the ability to efficiently implement policies and programs, it can effectively address the needs of its citizens. This means delivering essential services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs. These services are vital for human wellbeing as they contribute to improved quality of life, reduced poverty rates, and increased access to opportunities. In contrast, when state capacity is low, the government’s ability to deliver these services becomes hindered, resulting in inadequate provision and subpar outcomes for citizens.
Furthermore, high state capacity is closely linked to economic development. Governments with strong institutional capacity are better equipped to implement policies that promote economic growth and stability. This includes fostering an environment conducive to investment, ensuring regulatory frameworks that protect businesses and consumers, and implementing effective tax and revenue systems. These factors contribute to attracting both domestic and foreign investments, creating job opportunities, generating tax revenues, and promoting overall economic prosperity. Thus, prioritizing high state capacity becomes essential for driving economic development, which in turn positively impacts human wellbeing through increased employment, income levels, and standards of living.
Another crucial aspect of high state capacity is its role in maintaining social stability. A government with the ability to effectively enforce laws and regulations can ensure peace and order within society. This is particularly important in regions where conflicts or social unrest prevail. By having the necessary capacity to provide security and maintain law and order, a government can protect its citizens from violence, crime, and other threats to their safety. Social stability is fundamental for human wellbeing as it fosters trust within communities, enables individuals to pursue their goals without fear, and promotes social cohesion. Without high state capacity, governments may struggle to maintain stability, leading to social unrest and hindering human wellbeing.
While free and democratic institutions are undoubtedly important for fostering citizen participation and safeguarding individual rights, prioritizing high state capacity should take precedence when considering human wellbeing as a whole. In societies where state capacity is weak, democratic institutions may suffer from ineffective governance, corruption, and inability to address pressing issues that affect citizens’ lives. Consequently, the absence of high state capacity can undermine the very principles that democratic institutions aim to uphold.
In conclusion, while both high state capacity and free democratic institutions are crucial components of societal development, prioritizing high state capacity is a bigger priority when considering human wellbeing. By focusing on enhancing service delivery, promoting economic development, and maintaining social stability, high state capacity contributes significantly to improving the lives of citizens. Therefore, governments should prioritize building strong institutions and capacities to effectively address the needs of their people and foster an environment conducive to human wellbeing.
