write a thesis-driven essay that makes an original argument by advancing a series of related and substantiated claims in response to:
How does Liboiron align both pollution and pollution legislation with the reproduction of colonial relations?
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 Reproduction of Colonial Relations: Pollution and Legislation
Introduction
Throughout history, the exploitation of resources and the imposition of power dynamics have been key components of colonial relations. In recent years, scholars like Max Liboiron have shed light on how pollution and pollution legislation contribute to the reproduction of colonial relations. This essay aims to explore and substantiate the argument that Liboiron aligns both pollution and pollution legislation with the reproduction of colonial relations through a series of related claims. By examining the impacts of pollution on marginalized communities, the influence of corporate interests on legislation, and the persistence of environmental inequalities, this essay will demonstrate that pollution and pollution legislation perpetuate colonial relationships.
Claim 1: Pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities
One way in which pollution aligns with the reproduction of colonial relations is through its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. Historically, colonial powers exploited indigenous lands and resources, leaving behind a legacy of environmental degradation. This has resulted in the concentration of pollution in marginalized communities, often populated by indigenous peoples or people of color. Liboiron highlights how these communities bear the brunt of pollution’s harmful effects, such as contaminated water sources, air pollution from industrial facilities, or exposure to toxic waste. By subjecting marginalized communities to environmental harm, pollution perpetuates a colonial dynamic where power and privilege are maintained at the expense of the most vulnerable.
Claim 2: Corporate influence shapes pollution legislation
Another aspect linking pollution to the reproduction of colonial relations is the influence of corporate interests on pollution legislation. Powerful corporations often wield significant influence over legislative processes, resulting in policies that prioritize profit over environmental justice. This is particularly evident in cases where industries responsible for pollution are granted lenient regulations or exemptions from compliance. Liboiron argues that this collusion between industry and government perpetuates a colonial relationship, as it allows corporations to continue extracting resources and polluting without being held accountable for the damage caused. By prioritizing corporate interests over public well-being, pollution legislation inadvertently reinforces colonial power structures.
Claim 3: Environmental inequalities persist due to inadequate regulation
Furthermore, the persistence of environmental inequalities further demonstrates the alignment between pollution and the reproduction of colonial relations. Despite efforts to regulate pollution, marginalized communities continue to face disproportionate exposure to environmental harm. Liboiron argues that this is largely due to inadequate regulatory measures that fail to address the specific needs of marginalized communities. Policies designed to mitigate pollution often lack sufficient enforcement mechanisms or fail to consider social and economic disparities. As a result, those already marginalized by colonial histories are left with limited access to justice and redress for the harm caused by pollution. This perpetuates a cycle of environmental injustice and reinforces colonial power dynamics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Max Liboiron’s work highlights how pollution and pollution legislation align with the reproduction of colonial relations. By disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, allowing corporate interests to shape legislation, and perpetuating environmental inequalities, pollution perpetuates a system where power imbalances persist. Recognizing these connections is crucial in addressing the root causes of environmental injustice and working towards a more equitable and sustainable future. It is essential for policymakers and society at large to acknowledge and challenge these dynamics to break free from the reproduction of colonial relations in relation to pollution and its regulation.
