The framers of the Constitution designed the Senate to filter the output of the sometimes hasty House. Do you think this was a wise idea? Why or why not?
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 Role of the Senate in Filtering Legislative Output
The framers of the United States Constitution established the Senate as a means to filter the output of the House of Representatives, which could sometimes be hasty in its decision-making process. This design was intended to bring balance and careful consideration to the legislative process. In this essay, we will explore the wisdom behind this idea and analyze its implications.
Thesis Statement
The framers’ decision to create the Senate as a filter for the House of Representatives was a wise idea as it promotes deliberation, ensures representation of states’ interests, and prevents the enactment of laws that may not be thoroughly vetted.
Deliberation and Debate
One of the primary reasons why the Senate serves as a filter is to encourage deliberation and thorough debate on proposed legislation. Unlike the House, where decisions can be influenced by immediate political considerations or public opinion, the Senate’s six-year terms and smaller size allow for a more reflective and deliberate approach to lawmaking. This deliberative process often leads to more comprehensive and carefully crafted legislation that considers a broader range of perspectives and potential consequences.
Representation of State Interests
Another crucial aspect of the Senate’s role as a filter is its function in representing the interests of individual states. The framers designed the Senate to provide equal representation to all states, regardless of population size. This ensures that smaller states have a voice in the legislative process and prevents larger states from dominating decision-making. By requiring legislation to pass through both chambers of Congress, the Senate acts as a safeguard against laws that may unduly favor certain regions or populations.
Preventing Hasty Decision-Making
Furthermore, the Senate’s role as a filter helps prevent the enactment of hastily conceived laws that may not have undergone sufficient scrutiny. By requiring legislation to pass through two distinct bodies with different procedural rules and priorities, the framers created a system that promotes careful consideration and evaluation of proposed policies. This additional layer of review helps weed out impulsive or poorly thought-out measures, ultimately leading to more effective and durable laws.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the framers’ decision to establish the Senate as a filter for the House of Representatives was indeed a wise idea. By promoting deliberation, ensuring representation of states’ interests, and preventing hasty decision-making, the Senate plays a crucial role in shaping thoughtful and inclusive legislation. While the system is not without its flaws, the value of having a legislative body dedicated to careful consideration and reflection cannot be overstated. Through this system of checks and balances, the framers sought to create a government that is both responsive to the needs of the people and mindful of the long-term implications of its actions.
