Create an argumentative essay around why you find James Rachels’ critique of Cultural Relativism pursuasive. Paper should be 4-5 pages MLA citation with a thesis statement on defense
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 Persuasive Critique of Cultural Relativism by James Rachels
Introduction
Cultural relativism is a philosophical theory that suggests that an individual’s beliefs and values should be understood based on their own culture, rather than being judged against the standards of another culture. However, James Rachels, a prominent philosopher, provides a compelling critique of cultural relativism. This essay will analyze Rachels’ critique of cultural relativism, exploring its persuasive arguments and implications for ethical reasoning.
Thesis Statement
James Rachels’ critique of cultural relativism effectively exposes the flaws in this ethical theory by highlighting its potential for moral relativism, its inability to condemn heinous practices, and its lack of practical application in resolving ethical dilemmas.
The Problem of Moral Relativism
One of the central arguments presented by Rachels is the problem of moral relativism inherent in cultural relativism. Cultural relativism suggests that what is morally right or wrong is determined by one’s culture, leading to the conclusion that no culture’s values are superior to another’s. However, Rachels argues that this perspective can lead to moral nihilism, where any action, regardless of its consequences, becomes morally permissible as long as it is accepted within a particular culture. This undermines the universal principles of ethics and can justify atrocities in the name of cultural tolerance.
Inability to Condemn Heinous Practices
Rachels also points out the ethical shortcomings of cultural relativism in addressing heinous practices such as genocide, slavery, or female genital mutilation. According to cultural relativism, these practices would be considered morally acceptable within the cultures that endorse them. However, Rachels argues that there are certain fundamental human rights that should transcend cultural boundaries and be upheld universally. By failing to condemn such egregious violations of human dignity, cultural relativism exposes its moral bankruptcy and ineffectiveness in promoting ethical norms.
Lack of Practical Application
Moreover, Rachels highlights the impracticality of cultural relativism in resolving real-world ethical dilemmas. In situations where different cultures clash on moral issues, cultural relativism offers no guidance on how to arbitrate conflicting values. Without a framework for evaluating competing moral claims, cultural relativism falls short in providing meaningful solutions to complex ethical challenges. Rachels underscores the need for a more nuanced and reasoned approach to ethics that transcends cultural boundaries and upholds universal moral principles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, James Rachels’ critique of cultural relativism raises important questions about the limitations and dangers of this ethical theory. By exposing its potential for moral relativism, its failure to condemn heinous practices, and its lack of practical application in ethical decision-making, Rachels challenges us to reconsider the foundations of our moral beliefs. Ultimately, his arguments compel us to seek a more robust and principled approach to ethics that respects cultural diversity while upholding universal standards of justice and human rights.
