Divine Command Theory

Question 1

Divine Command Theory

Answer 1

Meta ethical theory that defines good simply with what God has commanded humans to do.
Objective- origin of moral values is explained as coming from God, in a way that is absolute.

Question 2

Morality without God’s existence

Answer 2

If God did not exist there would be no morality-
1. God is the creator, so all goodness comes from God. We need to respect his ‘right order’. Without a creator, there is no “order” and no divine being to be answerable to.

2. If God doesn’t exist there are no God-given laws to obey, and only man to answer to.
   “If God doesn’t exist, everything is permissible” -
   - Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Question 3

First point of DCT

Answer 3

God as the origin and regulator of morality.

God is the creator, so all goodness comes from Him. We need to respect His ‘right order’ in creation.
Morality is determined by God. Commands usually found in sacred texts.
Frankens “the standard of right and wrong is the will or law of God”

Question 4

Second point of DCT

Answer 4

Right and wrong as objective truths based on God’s will.
Morality is not influenced by personal choices and humans have no moral authority.

Question 5

Third point of DCT

Answer 5

Moral goodness is achieved by complying with divine command- the only way to be morally good is to follow God’s command
eg. (grayling) Reward for those who do.

Question 6

Fourth point of DCT

Answer 6

Divine command as a requirement of God’s omnipotence.
DCT is a natural consequence of God’s omnipotence otherwise he would not hold this.

Question 7

Fifth Point of DCT

Answer 7

Objective- moral facts: DCT as an objective metaphysical foundation of morality. Metaphysical- what lies beyond the physical world- not testable.

Question 8

Analogy

Answer 8

God as a general in the army, and Christians as his soldiers on the battlefield of life. They know the general has strategic plan that will enable them to be victorious. (shown through fall of Jericho)

Question 9

The fall of Jericho

Answer 9

Josh 6:17-21 - God commanded Joshua to destroy the city of Jericho, killing all living things, without exception. Disputes the general impression of God’s mercy and compassion.
Was God ‘suspending’ moral law?
Making these actions good?
Relativist laws?

Question 10

The arbitrariness problem

Answer 10

If God can will ‘evil’ commands to be followed, then morality becomes arbitrary.
Replies were provided by William of Ockham, Augustine, Aquinas, and Swinburne.

Question 11

William of Ockham

Answer 11

William of Ockham: “With Him a thing becomes right solely because He wants it so”
Morally bad actions can be performed by God without any evil. Those who obey perform a morally meritorious action.

Question 12

Augustine

Answer 12

Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac: without the command this would’ve been a criminal act. Divine commands ‘suspend’ moral wrongness as opposed to changing morality.

Question 13

Aquinas

Answer 13

God decides what is due to each person, so it is not wrong. Isaac’s death would not be murder if he was due to be slain in God’s commands. Israelites taking Egyptian wealth was not stealing, because it was due to them by God’s command.
God’s authority is an over-riding reason for doing it.

Question 14

Adams’ modified DCT

Answer 14

• Responds to the problems of original DCT that allow God to command cruelty.
• Adams claims that despite God’s ability to command cruelty through his omnipotence, it would be unthinkable due to his omnibenevolent nature.
• God’s commands are not arbitrary because they are rooted in the unchanging, omnibenevolent nature of God.
• An action is wrong if it defies the commands of a loving God. God’s commands do not have to be obeyed if on the basis on cruelty.