1. Provide a case of uncivil obedience that isnt mentioned in the article and show that it fits
Bulman-Pozen and Pozens definition.
a. You may either find a real case, or you may fabricate a potential case based on a
real law which could be the subject of a protest by uncivil obedience.
2. Give your own argument for or against the following conclusion:
a. Despite participants obeying all positive law, uncivil obedience is still sometimes morally wrong.
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
Uncivil Obedience: A Case Study
Introduction
Uncivil obedience, as defined by Bulman-Pozen and Pozen, refers to a form of political protest where individuals openly break the law while accepting legal consequences in order to challenge unjust laws or policies. This presentation will explore a hypothetical case of uncivil obedience and evaluate whether it aligns with the definition provided by Bulman-Pozen and Pozen.
Case Study: The Right to Shelter Movement
Imagine a scenario where a group of activists in a major city decides to engage in uncivil obedience to protest against the lack of sufficient shelters for the homeless population. The activists intentionally violate a city ordinance that prohibits camping in public spaces by setting up a makeshift shelter in a park. They are aware of the legal repercussions but argue that their actions are necessary to draw attention to the dire need for adequate shelter for the homeless.
Analysis based on Bulman-Pozen and Pozen’s Definition
According to Bulman-Pozen and Pozen, uncivil obedience involves a deliberate violation of the law with an acceptance of legal consequences as a means of challenging unjust laws or policies. In the case of the Right to Shelter Movement, the activists are openly breaking a law (camping in public spaces) to bring attention to the unjust policy of inadequate shelter provisions for the homeless. By willingly accepting the legal consequences, they are engaging in uncivil obedience as per the defined criteria.
Argument on the Morality of Uncivil Obedience
For the Conclusion: Uncivil Obedience Can Be Morally Wrong
While participants in uncivil obedience may be challenging unjust laws or policies, it can still be argued that engaging in such actions is sometimes morally wrong. The deliberate violation of laws, even with noble intentions, undermines the rule of law and may set a precedent for disregarding legal structures designed to maintain order and justice in society. It could lead to a slippery slope where individuals justify any form of disobedience based on personal beliefs, potentially causing chaos and anarchy.
Against the Conclusion: Uncivil Obedience Is Justified
On the other hand, one could argue that uncivil obedience is sometimes morally justified when faced with systemic injustices that cannot be effectively addressed through traditional legal channels. By openly challenging unjust laws and policies, individuals participating in uncivil obedience may bring attention to social issues that would otherwise go unnoticed or ignored. In such cases, breaking the law can be seen as a necessary act of civil disobedience to prompt positive change and uphold higher moral principles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the case study of the Right to Shelter Movement exemplifies how uncivil obedience can be used as a form of political protest to challenge unjust policies. While the morality of uncivil obedience remains a subject of debate, it is essential to consider the context and motivations behind such actions in determining their ethical implications. Ultimately, the balance between upholding the rule of law and advocating for social justice is a complex ethical dilemma that requires careful consideration and deliberation.
