Discuss the application of decision trees and influence diagrams to a problem of their choice.
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
Unraveling Complex Decision Making with Decision Trees and Influence Diagrams
In today’s data-driven world, making complex decisions can be daunting. However, with the advent of decision trees and influence diagrams, navigating intricate problems has become more manageable. These powerful tools help individuals and organizations analyze various options, weigh outcomes, and ultimately make informed decisions. In this essay, we will explore the application of decision trees and influence diagrams to a specific problem – determining the most suitable location for a new business venture.
Thesis Statement
By utilizing decision trees and influence diagrams, businesses can effectively evaluate different factors influencing the choice of location for a new business venture, leading to more informed and strategic decision-making processes.
Understanding Decision Trees
Decision trees are visual representations of decision-making processes that map out possible outcomes and their associated probabilities. They consist of nodes (decision points), branches (possible options), and leaves (final outcomes). Each node represents a decision to be made, with branches showing possible choices and leaves indicating the final result.
Application of Decision Trees to Location Selection
When considering the location for a new business venture, decision trees can be invaluable. Factors such as market demand, competition, operating costs, and regulatory environment can significantly impact the success of a business. By constructing a decision tree, businesses can systematically evaluate these factors, assign probabilities to different outcomes, and identify the most favorable location based on calculated risks and potential returns.
For instance, when analyzing market demand, businesses can create branches based on high, medium, and low demand scenarios. Further branches can be added to consider competition levels and potential customer demographics. By assigning probabilities to each scenario, businesses can quantify the risks associated with each location option and make data-driven decisions.
Understanding Influence Diagrams
Influence diagrams are graphical models that depict causal relationships between different variables in a decision-making process. They help in understanding how various factors influence each other and aid in identifying the most critical variables that drive outcomes.
Application of Influence Diagrams to Location Selection
In the context of selecting a business location, influence diagrams can provide valuable insights into the interplay between different variables. For example, factors such as proximity to suppliers, access to skilled labor, and transportation infrastructure can be interconnected in complex ways. By creating an influence diagram, businesses can visualize these relationships and prioritize factors that have the most significant impact on the success of the venture.
By leveraging influence diagrams, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between location-related variables. This knowledge can help in optimizing decision-making processes by focusing on key drivers that maximize the chances of success.
Conclusion
In conclusion, decision trees and influence diagrams offer powerful tools for tackling complex decision-making processes such as selecting the location for a new business venture. By utilizing these techniques, businesses can systematically analyze various factors, assess risks, and make informed choices that align with their strategic objectives. Ultimately, the application of decision trees and influence diagrams empowers businesses to navigate uncertainty with confidence and increase their chances of success in an ever-evolving marketplace.
