divine command theory

euthyphro

Plato Socrates asks ' is the holy approved by the gods because it is holy or because it is approved'

background of divine command theory

ideas about how christians should behave comes from the understanding of god as an answer apostle's creed: 'i believe in god the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth' -god is omnipotent -god is the creator of all things

the divine command theory summarized

god made the world and he is perfect so the world must be perfect christians must respect god's creation, like tenants must understand everything they have belongs to god must obey god by living in accordance with the bible and respecting his rules to keep peace

quotes

brunner- 'the good consists in always doing what god wils at any particular moment' frankena- 'the standard of right or wrong is the will or aw of god'

god as the origin and regulator of morality

god has established eternal objective principles of morality he is originator of morality so we have a single moral obligation to obey god requires the belief we have the ability to choose behaviours contrary to god's command

right and wrong as objective truths based on god's will

that which god says is good becomes good bypasses problems associated with morality being subjective morality is an objective impartial law not dependent on limited human experience answers why we should do the moral thing- divine punishment

moral goodness is achieved by complying with divine command

what god commands is the same as that which is good- meta-ethical view ought to obey anything god commands- nominative view unreasonable to act contrary to god's commands

divine command is a requirement of god's omnipotence

if god were to command things because they are too good it implies the standard of goodness is independent of god would mean god is no longer the creator of everything

divine command as an objective meta-physical foundation for morality

basis of all moral action is found in anything god command- beyond ordinary workings of empirical world anything god commands is objectively good to be a good person only requires you to comply with god's will

weaknesses

faith based argument- you can detach the faith from the morality of the 10 commandments human law is at odds with divine command, times changed and things god said were good have since changed used to justify actions- isis

robert adam's modification

challenging the problem of arbitrariness god would not order something immoral morality is grounded in his omni benevolence

robert adam's respone to euthyphro dilema

it is wrong to do x contrary to god's commands to do x god does not command cruelty for it's own sake does not suggest it to be logically impossible but unthinkable due to god's nature

rober adam's response to arbitrary

an action is morally wrong if it defies commands of a loving god if cruelty was demanded it would not be a loving god moral commands founded on god's omni benevolence god always commands what believers accept to be right

the euthyphro dilema

plato fourth century bce 'do the gods love what is good because it is good or is something good because the gods love it' the first strand- goodness exists separately which does not leave a need for god

arbitrary problem

the second strand of euthyphro dilemma god could command anything, how can arbitrary demands be the foundation of morality terrorist groups justify actions based on gods commands chrsitians condem homosexuality saying they must receive the death sentence goes against law and teachings of acceptability no flexibility to adapt

pluralism objection

how do we know what divine command to follow differences of understanding in religion eg. catholic vs protestant is an objective argument, there shoud be no room for subjectivity