Divine command theory

God as the origin and regulator of morality. Right and wrong as objective truths based on Gods commands. Key supporter Robert Adams

What kind of theory is DCT?

DOA - Deontological, objective, absolute/

• Deontological - obligation to follow Gods commands

• objective - not based on personal feelings

• absolute - definite, universal standard of right and wrong that binds all of humanity.

What does DCT believe?

• God is the origin and regulator of morality

• DCT believes that morality is completely dependent upon the commands of God.

• Frankena - ‘the standard of right and wrong is the will of God.’

• Rev John - ‘they come down direct from heaven and are eternally valid.’

Where do those who accept DCT look to, to learn commands?

• sacred texts

• e.g. the bible for Christians.

• one of the ten commandments ‘you shall not murder’

• humanity knows murder is morally wrong as God commanded this.

Right and wrong as objective truths based on God’s will

• right and wrong are objective truths

• morality is not influenced by humanities personal feelings, reasonings, opinions as God has commanded it this way.

• Human feelings have no authority, God has total authority.

• Ockham - ‘A thing becomes right solely because he wants it to.’

According to DCT how does one become moral?

• If a person wishes to be moral the only way to do this is to follow Gods commands.

• moral obligation consists of being obedient to Gods commands.

• some followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam believe not following Gods commands can lead to a moral agent facing Gods wrath.

• e.g. Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden.

• The idea that morality is achieved by being obedient to God is supported in the bible.

• ‘God will be merciful to you if you listen and keep to all his commands’

How does Gods omnipotence support DCT?

• the theory is a natural consequence of Gods omnipotence.

• An omnipotent God must have complete control over everything INCLUDING MORALITY.

• God has to control morality or he wouldn’t be omnipotent.

• If a religious believer accepts God’s omnipotence they also have to accept the principle of DCT.

Divine command theory as an objective meta-physical foundation for morality

• DCT is a normative ethic, raising a meta-ethical question, ‘is ethical behaviour dependent on a divine being.’

• Meta ethics asks questions about the origins of morality and the meanings or the terms good and bad.

• DCT answers these questions by telling us ‘goodness’ is what God commands and is beyond the ordinary workings of the empirical world.

Who is Robert Adams?

• A key figure that brings about the ‘modified DCT.’

• tackles the Euthyphro dilemma.

What is the Euthyphro dilemma?

• If God were to command that ‘X’ is moral, when human logic concludes it is immoral, a seemingly immoral act would become a moral truth and humanities duty would be to follow it.

• e.g. what if God commanded murder as moral?

How does Adams challenge the Euthyphro dilemma?

• Gods omnibenevolent nature is rooted in moral commands

• impossible for God to command anything cruel as it would counter his omnibenevolent nature.

• Adams - ‘any action is ethically wrong only if it is contrary to the commands of a loving God.’