Explain why having an academic or professional interest in your research topic is necessary and how to avoid your interest affecting the research
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 Significance of Academic or Professional Interest in Research Topics
Introduction
Having a genuine academic or professional interest in a research topic is essential for conducting meaningful and impactful research. This essay will delve into the reasons why having an interest in the research topic is necessary, as well as provide strategies to prevent personal bias or influence from affecting the research process.
Importance of Academic or Professional Interest
1. Motivation and Engagement: A genuine interest in the research topic serves as a driving force that motivates researchers to delve deeper into the subject matter, explore various perspectives, and uncover new insights. Passion for the topic fosters enthusiasm and engagement, leading to a more thorough and comprehensive examination of the research questions.
2. Expertise and Knowledge: Academic or professional interest often stems from prior knowledge, experience, or expertise in a particular field or subject area. Researchers with a vested interest in the topic are more likely to possess a nuanced understanding of relevant theories, methodologies, and findings, enhancing the quality and rigor of their research endeavors.
3. Relevance and Impact: Research conducted with genuine interest is more likely to address pertinent issues, contribute to existing knowledge gaps, and offer practical implications for academia, industry, or society at large. By aligning research interests with real-world concerns, researchers can generate valuable insights that have meaningful applications and implications.
Avoiding Bias and Influence in Research
While academic or professional interest is beneficial for research, it is crucial to mitigate potential biases or undue influence that may arise from personal inclinations. To ensure objectivity and rigor in research, consider the following strategies:
1. Maintain Critical Distance: Researchers should strive to maintain critical distance from their personal beliefs, assumptions, or preferences when conducting research. By approaching the topic with an open mind and a willingness to challenge preconceived notions, researchers can avoid confirmation bias and uphold intellectual integrity.
2. Engage in Peer Review: Seeking feedback and input from peers, mentors, or colleagues can provide valuable perspectives and insights that help counteract potential biases. Peer review processes ensure that research findings are scrutinized and evaluated by external experts, fostering transparency and accountability in the research methodology.
3. Use Diverse Methodologies: Employing diverse research methodologies, such as qualitative and quantitative approaches, triangulation techniques, or mixed-method designs, can help mitigate bias and enhance the validity and reliability of research findings. By triangulating data sources and perspectives, researchers can offer a more comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the research topic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having an academic or professional interest in a research topic is pivotal for conducting rigorous, insightful, and impactful research. Genuine interest motivates researchers, enhances expertise, and drives relevance and impact in scholarly endeavors. To ensure objectivity and mitigate personal bias, researchers should maintain critical distance, engage in peer review processes, and utilize diverse methodologies in their research practices. By balancing passion with impartiality, researchers can navigate the complexities of academic inquiry while upholding the highest standards of scholarly integrity and excellence.
