Dante’s Divine ComedyDante’s Divine Comedy

Introduction to DanteIntroduction to Dante

Reason and FaithReason and Faith

Love and Free WillLove and Free Will

Development of Soul & BodyDevelopment of Soul & Body

theodicytheodicy

• The immortals know no care, yet the lot they The immortals know no care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow; on the floor of spin for man is full of sorrow; on the floor of Zeus' palace there stand two urns, the one Zeus' palace there stand two urns, the one filled with evil gifts, and the other with good filled with evil gifts, and the other with good ones. He for whom Zeus the lord of thunder ones. He for whom Zeus the lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with good and now with evil fortune; but he to good and now with evil fortune; but he to whom Zeus sends none but evil gifts will be whom Zeus sends none but evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of famine will pursue him to the ends of the famine will pursue him to the ends of the world, and he will go up and down the face of world, and he will go up and down the face of the earth, respected neither by gods nor men.the earth, respected neither by gods nor men.[6][6]

•Hesiod elaborates (590–93):Hesiod elaborates (590–93):• From her is the race of women From her is the race of women

and female kind:and female kind:of her is the deadly race and of her is the deadly race and tribe of women whotribe of women wholive amongst mortal men to live amongst mortal men to their great trouble,their great trouble,no helpmeets in hateful no helpmeets in hateful poverty, but only in wealth.poverty, but only in wealth.

•Hesiod goes on to lament that Hesiod goes on to lament that men who try to avoid the evil of men who try to avoid the evil of women by avoiding marriage will women by avoiding marriage will fare no better (604–7):fare no better (604–7):

•Hesiod concedes that Hesiod concedes that occasionally a man finds a good occasionally a man finds a good wife, but still (609) "evil contends wife, but still (609) "evil contends with good."with good."

HopeHope

• Hope is the only good god remaining among Hope is the only good god remaining among mankind; the others have left and gone to mankind; the others have left and gone to OlympusOlympus..

• Trust, a mighty god has gone, Restraint has Trust, a mighty god has gone, Restraint has gone from men, and the gone from men, and the GracesGraces, my friend, , my friend, have abandoned the earth.have abandoned the earth.

• Men’s judicial oaths are no longer to be Men’s judicial oaths are no longer to be trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal gods; the race of pious men has perished andgods; the race of pious men has perished andmen no longer recognize the rules of conduct men no longer recognize the rules of conduct or acts of piety.or acts of piety.

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Introduction to DanteIntroduction to Dante

• Dante Aligheri (1265-1321), of Florence, Dante Aligheri (1265-1321), of Florence, Italy.Italy.

• One of the 4-5 greatest poets of the One of the 4-5 greatest poets of the Western tradition (with Homer, Virgil, Western tradition (with Homer, Virgil, Milton, Goethe).Milton, Goethe).

• His masterpiece (The Divine Comedy) His masterpiece (The Divine Comedy) embodies the Thomistic synthesis of embodies the Thomistic synthesis of Greek philosophy & the Biblical Greek philosophy & the Biblical worldview.worldview.

Structure of the Divine Structure of the Divine ComedyComedy• Three Parts:Three Parts:

– The Inferno (Hell). A depiction of the The Inferno (Hell). A depiction of the consequences of unchecked evil.consequences of unchecked evil.

– The Purgatorio (Purgatory). A representation The Purgatorio (Purgatory). A representation of human nature in this life (of which of human nature in this life (of which purgatory is an extension): the conflict purgatory is an extension): the conflict between good and evil.between good and evil.

– The Paradiso (Heaven). The ultimate, The Paradiso (Heaven). The ultimate, supernatural end of human life. The vision of supernatural end of human life. The vision of God.God.

Issues to ConsiderIssues to Consider

• Love as the source of both good and Love as the source of both good and evil.evil.

• The paradox of free will: is it The paradox of free will: is it compatible with a scientific compatible with a scientific (Aristotelian) picture of the workings (Aristotelian) picture of the workings of human nature?of human nature?

• The relationship between body and The relationship between body and soul.soul.

Faith & ReasonFaith & Reason

• Dante gives a high status to natural Dante gives a high status to natural reason.reason.– Virgil, Dante’s guide through hell and Virgil, Dante’s guide through hell and

purgatory, was a pre-Christian Roman poet.purgatory, was a pre-Christian Roman poet.– Aristotle is described as “the father of them Aristotle is described as “the father of them

that know.”that know.”– The philosophers and poets in limbo, although The philosophers and poets in limbo, although

unbelievers, are treated with great respect, unbelievers, are treated with great respect, and suffer only the sadness of the loss of and suffer only the sadness of the loss of heaven.heaven.

Limits of reasonLimits of reason• At the same time, Dante clearly asserts At the same time, Dante clearly asserts

the limits of reason, and the need for the limits of reason, and the need for its supplementation by faith.its supplementation by faith.– Beatrice (representing grace) must take Beatrice (representing grace) must take

over for Virgil as Dante enters heaven.over for Virgil as Dante enters heaven.– Certain mysteries (like that of free will) lie Certain mysteries (like that of free will) lie

beyond the scope of reason to explain beyond the scope of reason to explain completely.completely.

– The souls in heaven, enjoying the vision of The souls in heaven, enjoying the vision of God, have transcended all natural God, have transcended all natural limitations. Humanity is commingled with limitations. Humanity is commingled with God’s essence.God’s essence.

Love as the source of Good Love as the source of Good and Eviland Evil

• Virgil distinguishes between animal Virgil distinguishes between animal and mind-directed love.and mind-directed love.

• The second is fallible, both in respect The second is fallible, both in respect of its object and its intensity.of its object and its intensity.– Wrong object: Pride, Envy, WrathWrong object: Pride, Envy, Wrath– Too weak: Sloth (accidie)Too weak: Sloth (accidie)– Too strong: Avarice, Gluttony, LustToo strong: Avarice, Gluttony, Lust

Love directed toward the Love directed toward the good, but falliblygood, but fallibly• ““All men, though in a vague way, All men, though in a vague way,

apprehend a good their souls may rest apprehend a good their souls may rest in, and desire it; each, therefore, strives in, and desire it; each, therefore, strives to reach his chosen end.” (Pur. xvii)to reach his chosen end.” (Pur. xvii)

• ““Though love’s substance (object) Though love’s substance (object) always will appear to be a good, not always will appear to be a good, not every impress made, even in finest wax, every impress made, even in finest wax, is good and clear.” (Pur. xviii)is good and clear.” (Pur. xviii)

The Enigma of Free WillThe Enigma of Free Will

• ““If love springs outside the soul’s own If love springs outside the soul’s own will, it being made to love, what merit is will, it being made to love, what merit is there in loving good, or blame in loving there in loving good, or blame in loving ill?” (Dante to Virgil, canto xviii)ill?” (Dante to Virgil, canto xviii)

• ““As far as reason sees, I can reply. The As far as reason sees, I can reply. The rest you must ask Beatrice. The answer rest you must ask Beatrice. The answer lies within Faith’s Mysteries.” (Virgil’s lies within Faith’s Mysteries.” (Virgil’s reply)reply)

• ““All love springs from necessity, but you All love springs from necessity, but you still have the power to check its sway.”still have the power to check its sway.”

Marco’s Discourse (canto Marco’s Discourse (canto xvi)xvi)• Until quite modern times, astrology Until quite modern times, astrology

was taken to be scientific, revealing was taken to be scientific, revealing laws connecting heavenly motions laws connecting heavenly motions to earthly events.to earthly events.

• If we substitute modern physics & If we substitute modern physics & chemistry for astrology, the same chemistry for astrology, the same philosophical question arises: how is philosophical question arises: how is human freedom compatible with a human freedom compatible with a world of natural causal necessity?world of natural causal necessity?

Free Will & the IntellectFree Will & the Intellect

• Marco answers: it is the human Marco answers: it is the human intellect that frees man from the intellect that frees man from the heavens’ influence. By understanding heavens’ influence. By understanding the laws of cause/effect, we can the laws of cause/effect, we can transcend them.transcend them.

• Unsolved problem: why doesn’t the Unsolved problem: why doesn’t the intellect merely introduce its own chain intellect merely introduce its own chain of inexorable cause & effect? Whence of inexorable cause & effect? Whence comes the freedom to assent or comes the freedom to assent or dissent to reason’s conclusions?dissent to reason’s conclusions?

The Place of Training, Civic The Place of Training, Civic LeadershipLeadership• The fact of free will does not (for Dante) The fact of free will does not (for Dante)

negate the need for training: “restraint negate the need for training: “restraint by law to guide love to higher things”.by law to guide love to higher things”.

• The bad state of the world (in Dante’s The bad state of the world (in Dante’s time) Dante attributes to bad leadership time) Dante attributes to bad leadership of both church and state (but, especially, of both church and state (but, especially, of church).of church).

• Another paradox? Is it bad environment Another paradox? Is it bad environment or free will that is the ultimate or free will that is the ultimate explanation of evil?explanation of evil?

The Development of Soul & The Development of Soul & BodyBody• Statius’s Discourse -- Pur. canto xxvStatius’s Discourse -- Pur. canto xxv

• Describes the development of the Describes the development of the human fetus, beginning with the human fetus, beginning with the “formative power” present in the “formative power” present in the sperm.sperm.

• This formative power shapes the blood This formative power shapes the blood in the uterus through successive in the uterus through successive stages: plant-like, jellyfish-like, human.stages: plant-like, jellyfish-like, human.

Emergence of the rational Emergence of the rational soulsoul• This “formative power” could be This “formative power” could be

identified with the genetic information identified with the genetic information contained in the gametes (like Aristotle, contained in the gametes (like Aristotle, Dante hypothesizes no genetic Dante hypothesizes no genetic contribution of the mother).contribution of the mother).

• As the fetal brain develops, God steps in As the fetal brain develops, God steps in and creates a rational soul, which then and creates a rational soul, which then draws into itself the powers of the draws into itself the powers of the vegetative and perceptive souls.vegetative and perceptive souls.

Three Medieval TheoriesThree Medieval Theories• Dante endorses what was known as Dante endorses what was known as

“creationism”: that each individual “creationism”: that each individual human soul is specially created by God.human soul is specially created by God.

• Augustine and others endorsed Augustine and others endorsed “traducianism”: the human soul is “traducianism”: the human soul is formed by natural powers possessed by formed by natural powers possessed by the sperm & egg.the sperm & egg.

• Dante clearly rejects Averroism (ibn Dante clearly rejects Averroism (ibn Ruhd): that all human beings share a Ruhd): that all human beings share a single soul.single soul.

Dante’s Vision of HeavenDante’s Vision of Heaven

• Dante’s Dante’s ParadisoParadiso was based on the was based on the current, Ptolemaic (earth-centered) current, Ptolemaic (earth-centered) model.model.

• Dante passes through successive, Dante passes through successive, concentric circles: moon, Venus, Sun, concentric circles: moon, Venus, Sun, planets, fixed stars.planets, fixed stars.

• After reaching the primum mobile (first After reaching the primum mobile (first mover) beyond the stars, Dante’s mover) beyond the stars, Dante’s universe undergoes a disorienting, non-universe undergoes a disorienting, non-Euclidean transformation.Euclidean transformation.

• What had been the center (the earth) What had been the center (the earth) now becomes the extreme periphery, now becomes the extreme periphery, and the sphere of the primum mobile and the sphere of the primum mobile is seen to revolve around concentric is seen to revolve around concentric spheres of angels, centered in God.spheres of angels, centered in God.

• Thus, Dante’s universe is really not Thus, Dante’s universe is really not geo-centric at all, but theo-centric.geo-centric at all, but theo-centric.

Introduction to Joseph ButlerIntroduction to Joseph Butler

• Sermons, published in 1726.Sermons, published in 1726.

• Had profound effect on moral Had profound effect on moral philosophy in Britain, well into 20th philosophy in Britain, well into 20th century.century.

2 major themes:2 major themes:

• 1. Nature is the standard of 1. Nature is the standard of good/bad, right/wrong.good/bad, right/wrong.

• 2. The problem of the relation 2. The problem of the relation between self-love and love for between self-love and love for others.others.