01 Ethical Thought: A Divine Command Theory

Question 1

What is meta-ethical theory?

Answer 1

Studies the meaning of ethical language and the foundations and scope of ethical knowledge.

Question 2

What is normative ethics?

Answer 2

Comes up with systems and procedures for judging moral acts as right or wrong and for regulating moral actions.

Question 3

What is descriptive ethics?

Answer 3

Passes no judgment but recounts the ethical behaviour of communities or individuals.

Question 4

What is applied ethics?

Answer 4

Puts normative theories into practice in real life situations.

Question 5

What is another name for divine command theory?

Answer 5

Theological voluntarism

Question 6

What does divine command theory say?

Answer 6

It is our duty to obey rules that are commanded by God. Any acts that are forbidden by God are necessarily bad or wrong.

Question 7

What does theistic mean?

Answer 7

Belief in one God as creator and sustainer of the universe.

Question 8

What does omnibonevolent mean?

Answer 8

All loving

Question 9

What does omnipotent mean?

Answer 9

All powerful

Question 10

What does omniscient mean?

Answer 10

All knowing

Question 11

What does omnipresent mean?

Answer 11

Present everywhere.

Question 12

What quote does God claim everything is good?

Answer 12

Genesis 1 : 31
‘God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good’

Question 13

What does universal mean?

Answer 13

Applicable in all cases

Question 14

What does relative mean?

Answer 14

Without binding laws, dependant upon context or situation.

Question 15

What does absolute mean?

Answer 15

Universally valid, unaltered by reference to other factors.

Question 16

Explain that God’s commands are the standard for moral behaviour.

Answer 16

Right is right only because God has commanded it and wrong is wrong only because it is forbidden by God’s will.

Question 17

Where do God’s rules apply

Answer 17

Everywhere. There are universal.

Question 18

What does Deontilogical mean?

Answer 18

Actions are judged to be morally right or wrong. This is regardless of the outcome.

Question 19

What type of theory is divine command theory?

Answer 19

Deontilogical, absolute

Question 20

How is moral goodness achieved (DCT)?

Answer 20

By complying by God’s command

Question 21

How does a moral agent obey the commands laid out by God?

Answer 21

By following the commandments in scripture or church teaching.

Question 22

Why is our relationship with God vital for ethical behaviour?

Answer 22

Because those is fellowship with God can better understand his will.

Question 23

If God is truly all-powerful, what is vital (DCT)?

Answer 23

That he is not subject to the power of Morality.

Question 24

If God is truly omnipotent, why must God not be subject to the power of Morality?

Answer 24

If God’s goodness is because of his obedience to law, then the rules would be higher authority than God.

Question 25

To truly understand God, what must we comprehend him to be (DCT)?

Answer 25

The origin of both goodness and commands.

Question 26

How did biblical writers view morality?

Answer 26

Theologically

Question 27

Where do biblical writer view that the origin of Morality is from?

Answer 27

Within the nature and activity of God.

Question 28

What is the definition of the word right?

Answer 28

Commanded by God

Question 29

What is the definition of wrong?

Answer 29

Forbidden by God.

Question 30

What is meta-physical?

Answer 30

Relating to non-physical concepts
eg the qualities of God

Question 31

Who is Robert Adams?

Answer 31

An American philosopher

Question 32

What 2 statements does Robert Adams say is the same?

Answer 32

1. It is wrong to steal.
2. Stealing is against God’s commands.

Question 33

What does intrinsically mean?

Answer 33

Essential to or belinging naturally to; as part of the character of.

Question 34

What does Arbitrary mean?

Answer 34

Random, without reason.

Question 35

According to Robert Adams, Is morality simply based on a command from God (DCT)?

Answer 35

No

Question 36

According to Robert Adams, why is morality not simply based on a command from God (DCT)?

Answer 36

It is intrinsic to his unchanging omnibonevolent nature.

Question 37

Why is morality goodness not arbitrary or cruel?

Answer 37

Because God’s nature is intrinsically, unfailingly benevolent

Question 38

What type of God’s commands would be in violation of God’s nature and essence?

Answer 38

To command anything that is not good.

Question 39

Since morality is essential to the characteristics of God, what will anything moral always reflect?

Answer 39

God’s character.

Question 40

What is the euthyphro dilemma?

Answer 40

Is what is morrally right right because God commanded it or did God command it because it was already morally right?

Question 41

How does Rober Adams try to solve the euthyphro problem?

Answer 41

By understanding goodness as being at the heart of God’s nature rather than external to him or arbitrary.

Question 42

What is the Abitrariness problem?

Answer 42

If the definition of good is that it is approved by God, he can command something random and declare it good. This means that whatever God declares good does not have any special quality that allowes it to be judged this way. The goodness of such an act is purely because God has decreed it.

Question 43

How does Robert Adams attempt to resolve the abitrariness problem?

Answer 43

By understanding that God cannot command a random thing as good since it would be against his intrinsically and supremely good nature to do so.

Question 44

What is the pluralistic objection?

Answer 44

There are many different ethical systems around the globe that claim authority with reference to God, How do we know which system is right.

Question 45

Give an example of pluralism objection?

Answer 45

In christianity divorce is forbidden -matthew 5:32- yet it is allowed it deuteronomy.