Essay on does your moral standing change the way you think
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 Influence of Moral Standing on Thought Processes
Morality, defined as the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, plays a significant role in shaping individuals’ thought processes and decision-making. The relationship between one’s moral standing and their cognitive patterns is a complex interplay that can have profound implications on how individuals perceive, reason, and act in various situations. This essay delves into the ways in which moral standing influences the way people think, highlighting the interconnectedness between ethics, cognition, and behavior.
Moral Standing and Cognitive Framework
1. Ethical Decision-Making
– One’s moral standing serves as a compass that guides ethical decision-making. Individuals with a strong moral foundation are more likely to prioritize principles such as honesty, fairness, and integrity when faced with moral dilemmas. Their thought processes are influenced by a sense of duty towards upholding moral values, which in turn shapes their choices and actions.
2. Empathy and Perspective-Taking
– Moral standing can impact one’s capacity for empathy and perspective-taking. Individuals who prioritize compassion and altruism in their moral framework are more inclined to consider others’ feelings and viewpoints. This empathetic approach influences their thought processes by fostering a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and enhancing their ability to engage in moral reasoning.
3. Cognitive Dissonance
– In cases where one’s actions conflict with their moral beliefs, cognitive dissonance arises, leading to internal conflict and discomfort. Individuals may experience cognitive dissonance when their moral standing clashes with their behaviors or decisions. This discrepancy can prompt a reassessment of one’s thought processes, prompting reflection and potentially leading to a realignment of actions with moral values.
The Role of Moral Standing in Behavior
1. Behavioral Consistency
– Individuals with a consistent moral standing tend to exhibit coherence between their thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Their behavior is often aligned with their ethical principles, reflecting a harmonious relationship between moral convictions and decision-making processes. This consistency underscores the influence of moral standing on shaping behavior.
2. Moral Development
– Moral standing can evolve over time through moral development, which encompasses the acquisition of ethical reasoning skills and the internalization of moral values. As individuals mature and encounter diverse experiences, their thought processes may undergo transformation, leading to a deepening understanding of morality and its implications on behavior.
3. Social Influence
– External factors, such as societal norms and peer influence, can also impact one’s moral standing and subsequently influence thought processes. Conformity to social expectations or pressure from external sources may introduce complexities in ethical decision-making, highlighting the interplay between individual moral standing and external influences on cognition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, one’s moral standing exerts a profound influence on the way they think, perceive the world, and make decisions. Ethics and cognition are intricately intertwined, with moral principles serving as fundamental pillars that shape thought processes and behavioral responses. The alignment between moral standing and cognitive frameworks enhances ethical reasoning, fosters empathy, and promotes behavioral consistency. Conversely, conflicts between moral beliefs and actions may lead to cognitive dissonance, prompting individuals to reevaluate their thought processes and align their behaviors with their ethical convictions.
The dynamic relationship between moral standing and thought processes underscores the intricate interplay between ethics, cognition, and behavior in shaping individuals’ responses to ethical dilemmas and moral challenges. By recognizing the profound impact of moral standing on cognitive patterns, individuals can cultivate a heightened awareness of the ethical dimensions that guide their thinking and actions, contributing to a more conscientious and principled approach to decision-making in various aspects of life.
