Devine Command Theory Flashcards
What is a Devine Command?
A command from the evangelical creator God, who is the origin of morality. These commands give us a reason to behave in a morally good way to please God or because we are afraid of the consequences if we don’t.
What is the challenge put forward by Plato?
The Euthyphro Dilemma-“A belief that whats moral, and whats immoral is commanded by the Devine”
Two horns “Is it good because God commands it, or does God command it because its good”
Explain the two horns of the Euthyphro Dilemma
If God commands it to be good, what if on a whim if commands change? Ie what if it becomes morally good to kill and steal from the innocents?
If God commands because its good does that mean theres something bigger than God that commands morality meaning God is not omnipotent?
Who modified Devine Command Theory?
Robert Adams
What does Adams base his theory off?
Gods omnibenevolent nature/character
Whats Adams response?
As God is all loving he wouldn’t change his stance upon morality, it’s inconceivable for a loving God to endorse the killing of innocent people
The objective properties of right and wrong are within the objective properties of God. Therefore as an objective fact, Gods character never changes so neither will his moral standards.
What do non religious people argue?
They reject that Gods character underpins commands and their authorty, morality comes from elsewhere not a whim of a creator God.
Where do commands come from?
Scripture or revalation through religious experiences 
Where would others argue morality comes from?
Human Experience (view of Utilitarians)
Shared human nature and the abilty to reason (Aquinas)
Character, not the nature of actions (Virtue Ethicists such as Aristotle)
How does Adam respond to the argument of Gods changing nature?
Unacceptable as it implys a contradiction through arguing the rightness of an action is identical to the rightness of a command but at the same time arguing that if God commanded immoral acts it would be morally acceptable to disobey them.
What does Adam argue in relation to the Character of God?
Obeying God is conditional upon is all loving character, DCT emphasises a loving God.
Why do some Christians reject DCT altogther?
The Pluralism Objective
The Old Testament contains many commands that are only relevent to the time they were given in and not applicable to everyday society. Therefore if there’s rejection/reevaluation of some commands why not do this to all? There is an inconsistency.
