Describe the technology of encryption, why and how it is used, and concerns/tensions around its used.
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
Understanding Encryption Technology
Introduction
Encryption is a fundamental technology in the realm of information security, used to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. As digital communication has become ubiquitous in modern society, the importance of encryption has grown, leading to widespread adoption across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government. This essay explores the technology behind encryption, its applications, and the concerns and tensions surrounding its use.
What is Encryption?
At its core, encryption is the process of converting plain text or data into a coded format that can only be read by those who possess the appropriate decryption key. This process ensures that even if data is intercepted during transmission or accessed without authorization, it remains unintelligible to unauthorized parties.
Types of Encryption
1. Symmetric Encryption: In symmetric encryption, the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. This method is efficient for encrypting large amounts of data but poses challenges in key distribution. An example of symmetric encryption is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
2. Asymmetric Encryption: Also known as public-key cryptography, asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method enhances security by eliminating the need to share secret keys. The RSA algorithm is a well-known example of asymmetric encryption.
3. Hash Functions: While not technically encryption, hash functions transform data into fixed-size strings of characters, which are unique to each input. Hashing is commonly used for verifying data integrity and storing passwords securely.
Why and How is Encryption Used?
Applications of Encryption
1. Data Protection: Encryption protects sensitive information such as personal data, financial records, and intellectual property from unauthorized access and cyberattacks.
2. Secure Communication: Encryption is employed in secure messaging applications, email services, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to ensure that communications remain confidential.
3. E-commerce Security: Online transactions use encryption to safeguard credit card information and personal details, instilling trust in consumers.
4. Data Integrity: Encryption helps maintain data integrity by ensuring that any unauthorized changes to encrypted information are easily detectable.
How Encryption Works
– Key Generation: Encryption begins with the generation of keys using algorithms that ensure randomness and security.
– Encryption Process: The plaintext data is processed through an encryption algorithm combined with the encryption key, transforming it into ciphertext.
– Decryption Process: Authorized users can reverse the process using the decryption key to convert ciphertext back into readable plaintext.
Concerns and Tensions Surrounding Encryption
While encryption plays a crucial role in securing data, it also raises several concerns and tensions:
1. Law Enforcement Access
One of the most significant tensions involves law enforcement’s access to encrypted data. Authorities argue that strong encryption can hinder their ability to investigate crimes and gather evidence. This has led to debates about “backdoors”—deliberate vulnerabilities that allow governmental access to encrypted communications. Critics argue that backdoors compromise overall security and could be exploited by malicious actors.
2. Privacy vs. Security
Encryption is a vital tool for protecting individual privacy in an age of increasing surveillance and data collection by governments and corporations. Advocates for privacy emphasize that strong encryption safeguards citizens’ rights against unwarranted intrusion, while opponents assert that it can shield criminal activities, including terrorism and cybercrime.
3. Technological Divide
The implementation of encryption technology may not be uniform across different regions or sectors. Developing nations or smaller organizations may lack resources or expertise to implement strong encryption measures, leading to disparities in data protection capabilities.
4. Regulatory Challenges
The rapid development of encryption technologies often outpaces regulatory frameworks. Governments face challenges in creating policies that protect both national security interests and individual privacy rights without stifling innovation or imposing excessive restrictions on technology.
Conclusion
In summary, encryption is a critical technology that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and security of data in an increasingly digital world. Its applications span many sectors, providing essential protection for sensitive information. However, the rise of encryption has led to ongoing debates regarding law enforcement access, privacy rights, technological equity, and regulatory challenges. Balancing these concerns while promoting the responsible use of encryption will be essential as society continues to navigate the complexities of digital security.
