Book description
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
Raymond Angelo Belliotti
is SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy at the State
University of New York at Fredonia. He has published ten other books,
including
What Is the Meaning of Human Life?
(2001),
Happiness Is Overrated
(2004), W
atching Baseball Seeing Philosophy
(2008),
Niccolò Machiavelli
(2008), and
Roman Philosophy and the Good Life
(2009). Belliotti has received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for
Excellence in Teaching, the William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award,
the Kasling Lecture Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship,
and the SUNY Foundation Research and Scholarship Recognition Award.
