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    Divine Command Theory

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    sophia
    Divine Command Theory holds that moral obligations depend on God's commands. God's commands define morality rather than reflect an external standard. Critics argue this leads to arbitrariness in morality and conflicts with pluralism and modern values. Supporters include Augustine and Calvin, but critics point to issues like the Euthyphro dilemma questioning if morality stems from God or an external good. Overall, the theory bases morality on what God commands rather than an independent ethical standard.

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    Divine Command Theory

    Uploaded by

    sophia
    668 views3 pages
    Divine Command Theory holds that moral obligations depend on God's commands. God's commands define morality rather than reflect an external standard. Critics argue this leads to arbitrariness in morality and conflicts with pluralism and modern values. Supporters include Augustine and Calvin, but critics point to issues like the Euthyphro dilemma questioning if morality stems from God or an external good. Overall, the theory bases morality on what God commands rather than an independent ethical standard.

    Original Description:

    Some notes on Divine Command Theory. Be wary of the sources.

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    DIVINE COMMAND THEORY

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    Divine Command Theory holds that moral obligations depend on God's commands. God's commands define morality rather than reflect an external standard. Critics argue this leads to arbitrariness in morality and conflicts with pluralism and modern values. Supporters include Augustine and Calvin, but critics point to issues like the Euthyphro dilemma questioning if morality stems from God or an external good. Overall, the theory bases morality on what God commands rather than an independent ethical standard.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    668 views3 pages

    Divine Command Theory

    Uploaded by

    sophia
    Divine Command Theory holds that moral obligations depend on God's commands. God's commands define morality rather than reflect an external standard. Critics argue this leads to arbitrariness in morality and conflicts with pluralism and modern values. Supporters include Augustine and Calvin, but critics point to issues like the Euthyphro dilemma questioning if morality stems from God or an external good. Overall, the theory bases morality on what God commands rather than an independent ethical standard.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    DIVINE COMMAND THEORY

    - Divine Command Theory is based on the view on God’s commandments being


    morally right and following such commandments is our moral obligation.
    - The specific content of these divine commands varies according to the
    particular religion and the particular views of the individual divine command
    theorist, but all versions of the theory hold in common the claim that morality
    and moral obligations ultimately depend on God (iep.utm.edu).
    - According to Edward Wierenga (1989), a strong version of Divine Command
    Theory includes the claim that moral statements are defined in terms of
    theological statements. God’s commands do not determine morality, but rather
    inform us about its content.
    - A metaethical theory that an act is obligatory if and only if, and because, it is
    commanded by God.

    PROPONENTS:
    - Euthyphro
    - St. Augustine
    - William of Ockham
    - Duns Scotus
    - Calvin
    DISADVANTAGES OF THE THEORY (getrevising.co.uk)
    - Euthyphro Dilemma : It is often argued that divine command theory is confuted
    by the "Euthyphro dilemma" (so named because a version of it first appeared
    in Plato's dialogue Euthyphro) which asks, "is an action morally good because
    God commands it, or does God command it because it is morally good?". It
    basically ovides two problems - if morality stems from God, then is it arbitrary?
    Or if he makes these laws because what they teach is good, it implies there is
    an external standard of goodness therefore challenging his omnipotence

    - Arbitrariness: if God can change laws whenever he wants then morality isn't
    standard and based on a whim. An example would be the commandment don't
    kill being broken directly by God during the Battle of Jericho. Arminius rejected
    Determinism on the grounds it presents God as using us as his 'play thing',
    which seems relevant here too
    - Religious pluralism: how do we know which rules are right? The rules of
    Hinduism, such as Ahimsa and so eat vegetarian meals, but Leviticus teaches
    to eat (certain kinds of) meat
    - Pluralism of interpretation: religious believers choose to reinterpret some
    aspects of the religion, such as the rules on not wearing wool and linen in the
    Old Testament. Christians don't abide by this, Jews do. If we are told to
    reinterpret Paul's attitudes towards women, how do we know which bits to re-
    interpret and which bits not to?
    - Belief in God: dependent on whether God exists. You can't expect an Atheist
    to accept the teachings of a being they don't even accept as real
    - In conflict with modern life and human law: for example, Leviticus teaches not
    to lie with man as with woman, but our human laws protect the rights of all
    citizens including homosexuals/transsexuals etc.
    - Absolute and deontological: difficult to accept Christianity as so rigid due to
    Biblical teachings such as Jesus healing the man on the Sabbath, where a law
    is broken. Fletcher argued that this reflects the need for a more 'compassionate'
    Christian ethic, led to the development of Situation Ethics

    SOURCES:
    https://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/
    https://www3.nd.edu/~jspeaks/courses/2008-9/10100-spring/_LECTURES/27-
    divine-command-last-lecture.pdf
    https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Divine_command_theory
    https://infidels.org/library/modern/theism/divine.html
    https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/divine-command-theory

    OUTLINE:
    I. Divine Command Theory
    a. View on God’s commandments being morally right and following such
    commandments is our moral obligation
    b. Divine commands varies according to the particular religion
    c. A metaethical theory where actions are obligatory when commanded by
    God
    II. Proponents
    III. Disadvantages of Theory
    a. Euthyphro Dilemma
    b. Arbitrarines
    c. Religious pluralism
    d. Pluralism of interpretation
    e. Belief in God
    f. In conflict with modern life and human law

    g. Absolute and deontological


    IV. OVERVIEW
    V. SKIT

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