The opposing viewpoints on an issue that reasonable people currently disagree

by | Jan 17, 2025 | Analysis

 

Describe the opposing viewpoints on an issue that reasonable people currently disagree about. Summarize the strongest arguments on the pro and con sides of the issue. 3-4 pages, a minimum of two sources representing differing positions on the issue.

 

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.


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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.

The Issue: The Role of Government in Addressing Climate Change

This issue sparks intense debate, with reasonable people holding deeply opposing viewpoints.

Pro-Government Intervention:

  • Argument 1: Market Failure and Externalities

    • Core Principle: The free market, left unchecked, fails to account for the environmental costs of pollution, leading to a suboptimal allocation of resources.
    • Supporting Evidence: Climate change poses a significant global threat with severe economic and social consequences. The burning of fossil fuels, a major driver of climate change, generates significant externalities, such as air pollution and rising sea levels, that are not fully borne by the polluter.
    • Policy Implications: Proponents argue for government intervention through regulations, carbon taxes, and subsidies for renewable energy to internalize these external costs and incentivize a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

  • Argument 2: Technological Innovation and Job Creation

    • Core Principle: Government investment in research and development of renewable energy technologies can drive innovation and create new jobs in a growing green economy.
    • Supporting Evidence: Government funding has historically played a crucial role in the development of groundbreaking technologies, such as the internet and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective advocates for government support for research and development of clean energy technologies, infrastructure development for renewable energy sources, and policies that incentivize private sector investment in green technologies.

The Issue: The Role of Government in Addressing Climate Change

This issue sparks intense debate, with reasonable people holding deeply opposing viewpoints.

Pro-Government Intervention:

  • Argument 1: Market Failure and Externalities

    • Core Principle: The free market, left unchecked, fails to account for the environmental costs of pollution, leading to a suboptimal allocation of resources.
    • Supporting Evidence: Climate change poses a significant global threat with severe economic and social consequences. The burning of fossil fuels, a major driver of climate change, generates significant externalities, such as air pollution and rising sea levels, that are not fully borne by the polluter.
    • Policy Implications: Proponents argue for government intervention through regulations, carbon taxes, and subsidies for renewable energy to internalize these external costs and incentivize a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

  • Argument 2: Technological Innovation and Job Creation

    • Core Principle: Government investment in research and development of renewable energy technologies can drive innovation and create new jobs in a growing green economy.
    • Supporting Evidence: Government funding has historically played a crucial role in the development of groundbreaking technologies, such as the internet and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective advocates for government support for research and development of clean energy technologies, infrastructure development for renewable energy sources, and policies that incentivize private sector investment in green technologies.

  • Argument 3: Social Justice and Equity

    • Core Principle: Climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities and developing countries, necessitating government action to ensure a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy.
    • Supporting Evidence: Low-income communities and developing countries are often more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective emphasizes the need for government policies that address the social and economic impacts of climate change, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Anti-Government Intervention:

  • Argument 1: Market-Based Solutions and Innovation

    • Core Principle: The free market is the most efficient mechanism for allocating resources and driving innovation. Government intervention can stifle innovation and distort market signals.
    • Supporting Evidence: Proponents point to the success of market-based solutions such as cap-and-trade systems in reducing pollution. They argue that technological advancements in renewable energy are making these sources increasingly competitive with fossil fuels.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective favors market-based solutions, such as carbon pricing and emissions trading, over government regulations. They argue that these mechanisms provide flexibility and incentivize innovation.

  • Argument 2: Government Overreach and Economic Costs

    • Core Principle: Government intervention in the energy sector can lead to unintended consequences, such as increased energy costs, job losses in traditional industries, and economic stagnation.
    • Supporting Evidence: Proponents argue that stringent environmental regulations can increase the cost of energy, harm businesses, and lead to job losses in energy-intensive industries.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that avoids excessive government intervention and considers the potential economic costs of climate policies.

  • Argument 3: Individual Liberty and Property Rights

    • Core Principle: Government regulations to address climate change can infringe upon individual liberties and property rights.
    • Supporting Evidence: Proponents argue that regulations such as restrictions on land use and emissions limits can limit individual freedoms and impose significant costs on property owners.
    • Policy Implications: This perspective emphasizes the importance of respecting individual liberties and property rights while addressing climate change.

Conclusion

The debate over the role of government in addressing climate change is complex and multifaceted. Reasonable people can hold differing views based on their values, beliefs, and understanding of the scientific evidence and potential policy solutions. Finding common ground and developing effective climate policies will require open dialogue, respectful discourse, and a willingness to consider diverse perspectives.

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