Ukraine crisis, affirmative action, environamental crisis, Roe v. Wade

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Law

Compose a persuasive argument for or against a current issue of your choosing (e.g., Ukraine crisis, affirmative action, environamental crisis, Roe v. Wade, Florida “don’t say gay” law, etc.).

 

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.


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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.

A Persuasive Argument Against the Proliferation of Misinformation in the Digital Age

We stand at a precipice in the information age. While the internet and social media platforms have democratized access to knowledge and facilitated unprecedented connectivity, they have also inadvertently fostered a fertile ground for the rampant spread of misinformation. This unchecked proliferation poses a significant threat to societal cohesion, democratic processes, public health, and individual well-being, demanding urgent and comprehensive action to mitigate its corrosive effects.

The ease with which false or misleading information can be created and disseminated online is staggering. Sophisticated algorithms, designed to maximize engagement, often prioritize sensational and emotionally charged content, regardless of its veracity. This creates echo chambers where individuals are primarily exposed to information confirming their existing biases, making them less receptive to factual corrections and more susceptible to manipulation. The anonymity afforded by the internet can embolden malicious actors to spread disinformation without fear of accountability, further complicating efforts to trace and debunk falsehoods.

A Persuasive Argument Against the Proliferation of Misinformation in the Digital Age

We stand at a precipice in the information age. While the internet and social media platforms have democratized access to knowledge and facilitated unprecedented connectivity, they have also inadvertently fostered a fertile ground for the rampant spread of misinformation. This unchecked proliferation poses a significant threat to societal cohesion, democratic processes, public health, and individual well-being, demanding urgent and comprehensive action to mitigate its corrosive effects.

The ease with which false or misleading information can be created and disseminated online is staggering. Sophisticated algorithms, designed to maximize engagement, often prioritize sensational and emotionally charged content, regardless of its veracity. This creates echo chambers where individuals are primarily exposed to information confirming their existing biases, making them less receptive to factual corrections and more susceptible to manipulation. The anonymity afforded by the internet can embolden malicious actors to spread disinformation without fear of accountability, further complicating efforts to trace and debunk falsehoods.

The consequences of this unchecked spread are far-reaching and deeply concerning. In the realm of public health, misinformation regarding vaccinations and disease prevention can lead to decreased immunization rates and outbreaks of preventable illnesses, endangering entire communities. During crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, false narratives about the virus’s origin, transmission, and treatment have sown confusion, undermined public health efforts, and tragically cost lives.

Furthermore, the integrity of democratic processes is increasingly threatened by disinformation campaigns designed to polarize electorates, sow distrust in institutions, and even incite violence. Foreign interference and domestic actors alike leverage social media to spread propaganda, manipulate public opinion, and undermine faith in the electoral system. The erosion of trust in credible news sources, fueled by a constant barrage of conflicting and often false information, weakens the foundations of informed civic engagement.

On an individual level, the constant exposure to misinformation can lead to anxiety, confusion, and a distorted understanding of reality. It can fuel conspiracy theories, erode critical thinking skills, and make individuals more vulnerable to scams and manipulation. The emotional toll of navigating a digital landscape saturated with falsehoods is significant, contributing to a sense of societal fragmentation and distrust.

While the principles of free speech are paramount, they cannot be absolute in the face of demonstrable harm caused by the widespread dissemination of malicious falsehoods. This is not a call for censorship, but rather a plea for responsible stewardship of the digital public square. We need a multi-pronged approach that involves:

  • Enhanced Media Literacy Education: Equipping individuals with the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate information sources, identify biases, and discern credible information from falsehoods. This education must be integrated into school curricula and made accessible to all age groups.
  • Platform Accountability: Holding social media platforms accountable for the content they host and incentivizing them to actively identify and mitigate the spread of misinformation. This includes investing in robust fact-checking mechanisms, improving transparency around algorithms, and implementing clear and consistent policies regarding the removal of harmful falsehoods.
  • Support for Quality Journalism: Strengthening independent and credible journalism is crucial for providing the public with accurate and reliable information. Supporting investigative journalism and promoting diverse media ownership can help counter the spread of misinformation.
  • International Cooperation: Misinformation transcends national borders, requiring international collaboration to develop shared standards and strategies for combating its spread.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising public awareness about the dangers of misinformation and empowering individuals to be responsible consumers and sharers of information.

In conclusion, the unchecked proliferation of misinformation in the digital age poses a grave threat to our collective well-being and the fabric of our societies. While safeguarding freedom of expression, we must recognize the urgent need for proactive and comprehensive measures to foster a more informed and resilient information ecosystem. By investing in media literacy, holding platforms accountable, supporting quality journalism, and fostering international cooperation, we can work towards mitigating the corrosive effects of misinformation and building a digital world grounded in truth and trust. The future of our democracies and the health of our communities depend on our willingness to confront this challenge head-on.

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