focus on health care and society. You must address the following:
• Which sociological perspective (functionalist, interactionist, or conflict view) best explains your viewpoint on the U.S. health care system? Give an example of a specific health or health care-related social problem to illustrate how your perspective is manifested.
• Identify one way that you believe the U.S. health care system can be improved to create more affordable quality care for all?
• How can the concept of sociological imagination be applied to health care reform?
• What social institutions do you believe can have the most influence on social change in health care equality?
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 Sociological Perspective on the U.S. Health Care System
Sociological Perspective
The conflict view provides the most suitable sociological perspective to explain my viewpoint on the U.S. health care system. The conflict view focuses on the unequal distribution of resources and power within society, emphasizing the competition and conflict among different social groups. In the context of health care, this perspective highlights the disparities and inequities that exist in access to and quality of care.
An example that illustrates this perspective is the issue of health care disparities based on socioeconomic status. Individuals from low-income backgrounds often face barriers in accessing quality health care services due to factors such as limited financial resources, lack of health insurance, and inadequate access to healthcare facilities. This disparity in access to care leads to poorer health outcomes for disadvantaged populations, perpetuating the cycle of inequality.
Improving the U.S. Health Care System
To create more affordable quality care for all, one way the U.S. health care system can be improved is through the implementation of universal health care. Universal health care ensures that all individuals have access to necessary medical services without financial hardship. By adopting a single-payer system, where a government-funded program covers everyone’s medical expenses, the burden of excessive healthcare costs can be reduced, ensuring that individuals receive the care they need regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Sociological Imagination and Health Care Reform
The concept of sociological imagination can be applied to health care reform by examining how individual experiences are shaped by broader social forces and structures. It encourages us to understand health issues not merely as personal troubles but as public issues affected by social, economic, and political factors. By applying sociological imagination, we can recognize that issues like lack of access to affordable health care are not solely due to individual choices or shortcomings but are deeply rooted in structural inequalities within society. This understanding can drive collective action to address these systemic issues through policy changes and social reform.
Social Institutions Influencing Health Care Equality
Several social institutions have the potential to drive social change in health care equality:
Government: As a key social institution, the government plays a vital role in shaping health care policies and regulations. Through legislation, funding allocations, and implementation of programs, the government has the power to promote equitable access to quality care for all individuals.
Healthcare Organizations: Health care institutions, such as hospitals and clinics, have a significant influence on health care equality. They can contribute by implementing policies that prioritize patient-centered care, improving cultural competency among healthcare providers, and addressing disparities in access and treatment.
Education System: The education system plays a crucial role in addressing health care inequality by ensuring that individuals have access to quality health education. By incorporating comprehensive health education into school curricula, students can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofit organizations focused on health care advocacy and reform can play a pivotal role in promoting health care equality. These organizations can raise awareness about health disparities, advocate for policy changes, and provide support and resources to underserved communities.
In conclusion, adopting a conflict view allows us to understand the inequalities present in the U.S. health care system. By implementing universal health care, applying sociological imagination, and leveraging the influence of social institutions such as government, healthcare organizations, education systems, and nonprofit organizations, we can work towards creating a more equitable and accessible health care system for all individuals.
