Ethics Test 1

• Determining the difference between philosophical ethical theory (PET) and divine command theory (DCT) • Plato’s writings are dialogues • Circumstances of Euthyphro o Socrates is coming to court of King Arcon o On the porch and Socrate is going in o Euthyphro comes out o Conversation on the porch o Kurbeis --> hole in the middle of a wooden log o Sacred laws of Athenian religion on it o On the porch of the court o Euthyphro is being charged of murder o The court propogates religious laws o Euthyphro vs Socrates o Euthyphro has a different view of impiety o 3 fold contrast in the dialogue • Euthyphro is shocked to see Socrates o Suprised Socrates has left where he always is o Doesn't think Socrates is in trouble o Euthyphro thinks very highly of Socrates and doesn’t think he’s impious o Meleteus accuses Socrates o Socrates practices religion and obeys the law ▪ Seen as a threat o Pious action for Euthyphro --> doing the right things • Socrates is looking for universal piety • Euthyphro identifies with Socrates • Euthyphro is mystical and Socrates is philosophical o The city represents the law • Euthyphro is prosecuting his father because he killed someone • Exegete --> interpreter • Interpretation was needed in Athens • Messenger gone for a while --> dies in the cold • Euthyphro decides to prosecute his father • Thinks he can because he thinks he committed a crime • Euthyphro thinks he is a religious expert • Socrates prompts Euthyphro about his wisdom and if he is going to do this to his father • Response to Euthyphro’s wisdom --> teach me about piety and impiety • Euthyphro has an opinion of right and wrong • Socrates thinks piety is an unchanging reality • Socrates is looking for something to describe the form of piety and impiety o Needs a definition, not examples • Euthyphro starts talking about gods • Gods were born in generations o Fathers in the early generations of gods punished by their sons • Euthyphro is punishing his father o This is impious • Euthyphro is giving definitions o Loved piuous o Not loved impious • Socrates doesn’t believe these can be justified o Different gods have different ideas of what is pious and what is impious • Socrates is making a big deal • Euthyphro’s idea of ethical theory is divine command because there is a god determining good vs evil • Pious vs impious has to enter the minds of gods Genesis Chapter 22 • Abram is married to Sarai • Can't conceive a child • God helps Sarai conceive Isaac • God tells Abram to sacrifice His son • Testing his faith • Isaac is so confused • God puts a ram on the wood at the last second • Abraham trusted God • God promises to make him many descendants • God tells Abraham what is good • Not everyone has knowledge of God’s will • No faith --> it is difficult to hear God • Have to know God to know the good • Knowledge communicated through the Bible • Philosophical ethical theory is NOT dependent on having faith in God • Forms --> philosophical Divine Command Theory in the Euthyphro and Abraham • Mystical insight into the mind • Only some have it, privvy to divine knowledge of the gods o Chosen • Euthyphro is a single individual where the divine matters o Same with Abraham • Divine Command Theory --> God can speak to some and some can hear o If we act well, we get rewarded • Speaking and hearing --> matter of word of God • Moral precepts --> rules, directives • Authority precept --> principles that come from God • People laugh at Euthyphro --> further confirms him as special • Finds laughing offensive but a reflection of seniority • Divine Command Theory of ethics --> commanders of God have to be interpreted • God spoke to Abraham o Take your son to the mountain • Word of God has to be interpreted • There are challenges to defending DCT o Interpretation and justification