Dante's Deadly Sins

Dante’s Deadly Sins is a unique study of the moral philosophy behind Dante’s master work that considers the Commedia as he intended, namely, as a practical guide to moral betterment. Focusing on Inferno and Purgatorio, Belliotti examines the puzzles and paradoxes of Dante’s moral assumptions, his treatment of the 7 deadly sins, and how 10 of his most powerful moral lessons anticipate modern existentialism. Analyzes the moral philosophy underpinning one of the greatest works of world culture Summarizes the Inferno and Purgatorio, while underscoring their moral implications Explains and evaluates Dante’s understanding of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ and the ultimate role they play as the basis of human transgression. Provides a detailed discussion of the philosophical concepts of moral desert and the law of contrapasso, using character case studies within Dante’s work Connects the poem’s moral themes to our own contemporary condition

About the Author x  Preface xii  The Rationale xii  The Origin xiii  Acknowledgments xvii  Introduction 1  The Historical Context 1  The Life of Dante 3  Later Writings 8  The Commedia 12  Dante’s Death 14  Aims of this Book 15  Dante as Moral Philosopher 17  1 Inferno 19  Dante’s Mission 19  The Journey Begins 20  Vestibule (Ante-Hell): The Indecisive Neutrals 21  Upper Hell: Sins of Unrestrained Desire (the Wolf) 23  River Styx, Walls of the City of Dis 28  Lower Hell: Sins of Malice Leading to Violence (the Lion) 30  Lower Hell: Sins of Malice Leading to Fraud (the Leopard) 34  Dante’s Existential Lessons in Hell 46  2 Purgatorio 48  Purgatory in a Nutshell 48  The Journey Continues 50  Ante-Purgatory: Late Repentants 50  Gate of Purgatory 56  The First Three Terraces: Misdirected Love 57  The Fourth Terrace: Deficient Love of the Good 62  The Final Three Terraces: Excessive Love of Secondary Goods 64  Dante’s Existential Lessons in Purgatory 71  3 The Notion of Desert and the Law of Contrapasso 73  The Notion of Desert 73  The Contrapasso 81  The Problem of Proportionality 87  First Case Study: Francesca90  Second Case Study:BrutusandCassius92  Third Case Study:Epicurus 99  Dante’s Moral Conception 102  4 Paradoxes and Puzzles: VirgilandCato104  The Paradox ofVirgil105  Summary of the Paradox ofVirgil111  The Strange Case ofCato 116  “The Perfect Stoic” 117  Dante’s Decision 120  Danteand Conflict 123  5 The Seven Deadly Sins 124  Historical Background 124  Superbia (Pride) 127  Invidia (Envy) 129  Ira (Wrath) 133  Acedia (Sloth) 137  Avaritia (Avarice) 138  Gula (Gluttony) 139  Luxuria (Lust) 140  The Antidote: Righteous Love 142  The Bridge to Salvation 148  6Dante’s Existential Moral Lessons 149  Dante and Existentialism 149  Jean-Paul Sartre and Hell 150  Dante’s Ten Existential Lessons 157  Individualism and Community 176  Personal Strategies 179  Bibliography 185  Index 193