Study Notes on Divine Command Theory and Subjectivism

Divine Command Theory

  • Definition: Divine Command Theory posits that the source of moral right and wrong is God's commands or divine will.

Problems with Divine Command Theory

  • Biblical Examples:

    • The story of Abraham in Genesis, where God commanded him to sacrifice his son.
    • This raises the question: Would a divine command theorist be willing to follow such a command?
    • The story of Saul in 1 Samuel where God commanded the Israelites to commit genocide against the Amalekites.
    • Raises ethical considerations regarding the morality of genocide as an imperative from God.

  • Moral Implications:

    • Issues of morality become problematic when following divine commands might lead one to act immorally (e.g., genocide).
    • Does it seem plausible that a moral theory could require actions such as genocide?

  • Metaphysical Questions:

    • Where does the metaphysical ground of right and wrong come from?
    • How do divine commands fit into the broader understanding of morality?
    • Example of apparent contradictory divine commands:
    • Exodus: "Thou shalt not kill."
    • 1 Samuel: Command to kill everyone, including infants.

Inconsistency and Contradiction

  • Contradictory Commands:

    • If God gives contradictory commands, could followers ever know the correct moral action to take?
    • Implications of God's changing commands over time could lead to moral ambiguity regarding actions like murder.

  • Practicality:

    • Relying on ancient texts (the Bible) for moral guidance may lead to misunderstandings due to translation variances and outdated manual interpretations.

Ethical Theorization and Practical Results

  • Real-Life Application of Ethics:
    • Moral actions are about human affairs and should ideally be informed by modern understanding and implications,
    • Addressing moral questions through intuitive reasoning (e.g., the result of actions on human welfare) rather than relying solely on divine command.

Subjectivism

  • Definition: Subjectivism states that moral norms are relative to the individual subject that approves or disapproves of actions.

Comparison to Divine Command Theory

  • Individualized Ethics: Each person becomes a moral authority; what is right for one may not be right for another.
  • Absurd Consequences:
    • Leads to contradictions within moral claims: e.g., theft is both right and wrong simultaneously depending on individual approval.

Objective vs. Subjective Truth

  • Objective Truth: True regardless of individual opinions (e.g., mathematical truths like 1 + 1 = 2).
  • Subjective Truth: Depends on individual experiences and preferences (e.g., tastes in ice cream).

Breakdown of Subjectivism

  • Moral Debates: No genuine moral disagreements can occur under subjectivism since both parties could be correct, simply differing in preferences.
  • Tolerance and Legitimacy: All moral codes are equally legitimate, leading to problematic situations such as equating expert opinions with uninformed opinions regarding ethics.

Infallibility of Moral Judgments

  • Moral Accountability: If subjectivism holds, one can never be morally wrong as long as they act according to what they approve of, raising concerns about moral responsibility.
  • Case Study: Ted Bundy, the serial killer, could rationalize his actions if subjectivism is true, leading to ethical absurdity.

Ineffectiveness of Moral Progress

  • Lack of Moral Progress: Individuals can oscillate between moral perspectives without making true progress as per subjective morality.
  • Guilt and Error: Experiences of guilt indicate that individuals recognize they can be wrong, opposing the concept of infallibility in subjectivism.

Cultural Relativism

  • Definition: Cultural relativism proposes that moral truths are relative to cultural contexts rather than individual preferences.
  • Structural Similarities to Subjectivism:
    • Cultures cannot progress morally since all cultures define their moral systems independently.
    • Inherent challenges of genuine moral disagreements persist, similar to issues found within subjectivism.

Common Misconception

  • Tolerance and Diversity: Many students believe cultural relativism promotes tolerance, overlooking the lack of cross-cultural moral principles within the theory.

Notes are structured to cover the theory, implications, examples, and issues with Divine Command Theory, Subjectivism, and Cultural Relativism as discussed in the lecture. This captures all major themes, details, and implications derived from ethical discussions.