1A Divine Command Theory

Question 1

Give the two main quotes from Plato’s dialogue, ‘Euthyphro’.

Answer 1

• Euthyphro: “What’s holy is whatever all the Gods approve of, and […] what all the Gods disapprove of is unholy.”
• Socrates: “Is the holy approved by the Gods because it is holy, or is it holy because it is approved?”

Question 2

What is Divine Command theory also known as?

Answer 2

Theological voluntarism

Question 3

What is the Divine Command theory?

Answer 3

• God has established eternal, objective principles of morality ∴ what God says is good becomes good

Question 4

What is the problem and solution of the Divine Command theory

Answer 4

• Problem: If God commands things ∵ they are good, this implies that there is a standard of goodness independent of God ∴ God is no longer the creator of the universe
• Solution: What is good originates with God and cannot be external from God
• The idea of DCt = a requirement of God’s omnipotence

Question 5

What is the arbitrariness problem?

Answer 5

• If something is good because God wills it to be, can God will to be good that which we consider evil?
• Baggini: “Christian texts seem to provide evidence that this is precisely what their God has done.”

Question 6

Give the main quote from William of Ockham and explain why there is an issue with it.

Answer 6

• “God can perform acts that according to common law are evil, but without involving any evil.”
• It is hypocritical.

Question 7

What is the issue with any ethical system that the Divine Command theory proposes?

Answer 7

It is arbitrary as it is based on personal whim

Question 8

What is Adams’ Modified Divine Command theory?

Answer 8

• As morality is grounded in the character of God, who is perfectly good, God’s commands are rooted in his omnibenevolent character
∴ morality cannot be arbitrary ∵ it is grounded in the immutable omnibenevolent character of God
∵ God cannot be subject to a moral law that exists external to him

Question 9

What is the Euthyphro dilemma?

Answer 9

1) Is morality arbitrary if it is dependent on the command of a divine being?
2) If God decides upon what is good, does he do it ∵ it is good independent of God?
∴ traditional DCt suggests that morality is a matter external to God

Question 10

What is Baggini’s challenge to Adams?

Answer 10

• Adams: Both the arbitrariness and external objectivity issues are redundant when one considers DC as an expression of God’s omnibenevolence
• Baggini: “is God’s nature good ∵ it is good, or good ∵ it is God’s?

Question 11

Explain the pluralism objection.

Answer 11

• Different religions claim different DCs
• There are a variety of interpretations of a specific religious ethic e.g. diff. views on OT or Shari’a
• Minority may propose specific and conflicting interpretations of texts as DC

Question 12

Give examples of challenges to specific biblical texts.

Answer 12

• “Thou shalt not kill” = challenged by agape on issues such as abortion/euthanasia
• “If a man has sexual relations with another man…They are to be put to death.” = contrary to 21st C. law + 10 commandments; Romans 1:26-8 recognises female homosexuality but does not prescribe death
• Do J’s wider teachings supersede texts?
• Is DC relative to a historical/social context? Should slavery be advocated as it is not condemned in the Bible? No flexibilty to adapt to changing views of society.

Question 13

Give a general challenge to Adams.

Answer 13

Is goodness external to God? We may credit omnibenevolence to God when it is not intrinsic to him.

Question 14

Explain Socrates’ comment.

Answer 14

• Does good exist independently and separate from approval, or does good exist as a consequence of it being approved?