Inductive reasoning leads to the philosophical problem of induction, and conclusions you draw every day are inductive. Reflect on the possibility that these conclusions could turn out to be wrong (false). Explain how you can improve your critical thinking by being mindful of the fact that most of the conclusions we draw on a daily basis are inductive rather than deductive. Give at least two examples to illustrate your reasoning.
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
Title: The Perils of Inductive Reasoning: Cultivating Critical Thinking
Word Count: 576
Introduction:
Inductive reasoning plays a significant role in our daily lives, as we draw conclusions based on patterns, observations, and experiences. However, it is essential to recognize the inherent limitations and potential fallibility of inductive reasoning. By being mindful of this fact, we can enhance our critical thinking skills and avoid unwarranted assumptions. In this journal entry, I will reflect on the possibility of erroneous conclusions resulting from inductive reasoning and discuss how developing awareness can improve our critical thinking abilities.
The Fallibility of Inductive Reasoning:
Inductive reasoning involves generalizing from specific instances to form broader conclusions. Unlike deductive reasoning, which offers certainty when the premises are true, inductive reasoning provides only probabilistic conclusions. This creates the philosophical problem of induction, as there is always a possibility that our inductive conclusions could turn out to be false.
Enhancing Critical Thinking through Mindfulness:
To improve our critical thinking skills, it is crucial to be mindful of the limitations of inductive reasoning. This mindfulness encourages us to critically evaluate the evidence and consider alternative explanations. Here are two examples that illustrate the benefits of such mindfulness:
Example from Everyday Life:
Suppose we have always experienced heavy traffic during rush hour while driving to work. Based on this recurring pattern, we may conclude that heavy traffic will persist every day. However, by being mindful of the fallibility of inductive reasoning, we can consider alternative explanations. We might realize that our observations were limited to a specific route or specific days of the week. This awareness prompts us to critically evaluate our conclusion and seek additional evidence before accepting it as a general truth.
Example from Scientific Research:
In scientific research, inductive reasoning is often used to formulate hypotheses based on observations and experiments. For instance, a scientist might observe a consistent relationship between the consumption of a particular food and increased risk of a specific disease. While this observation may suggest a causal link, a critical thinker would be mindful of the limitations of inductive reasoning. They would acknowledge that other factors or confounding variables could be responsible for the observed association. Thus, they would proceed with caution, conducting further research to establish a more robust and reliable conclusion.
Conclusion:
Inductive reasoning is an indispensable tool for drawing conclusions based on patterns and observations. However, it is important to remember that inductive conclusions are inherently uncertain and subject to potential error. By cultivating mindfulness about the limitations of inductive reasoning, we can enhance our critical thinking skills.
Being aware of the fallibility of inductive reasoning prompts us to critically evaluate evidence, consider alternative explanations, and seek additional information when necessary. This mindset fosters intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to revise our conclusions in light of new evidence.
Ultimately, by cultivating a mindful approach to inductive reasoning, we become more adept at navigating the complexities of daily life and scientific endeavors. We avoid unwarranted assumptions and develop a nuanced understanding of the limitations and strengths of inductive reasoning. This journey towards improved critical thinking empowers us to make more informed and reliable judgments, contributing to personal growth and intellectual development.
