Divine Command Theory Flashcards
What does Divine Command Theory propose?
It proposes that God has created eternal, objective principles of morality
What does the Theologian Frankena state about DCT?
‘The standard of right and wrong is the will or law of God’
What example demonstrates why people should follow God’s word?
God as a army general giving Christians(soldiers) commands that although seem strange at the time will help they achieve victory
Does God’s word change in situations?
No matter the situation, no matter what YOU think!
God is considered the ‘x’ with divine sovereignty?
‘Universal Monarch’
Christians believe everything in the end belongs to God how do they obey God in this sense?
By living in accordance with the Bible and the teachings of the Church
The horn example tells us something is good due to one of 2 things, what are they?
1) Good because the Gods love it
2) Gods love it because it is good
What are some strengths of Divine command theory?
1) Fits with Abrahamic idea that God is ominipotent.
2) Fits with the Christian idea of God as CREATOR of the universe who expects humans to care for environment
3) Its objective, therefore neutral moral system
4) Its UNIVERSAL (in Abrahamic ideology
5) Emphasis the virtue of OBEDIENCE
True of False the New Testament embodies a more Aristotelian approach to ethical conduct, that of Virtue Ethics?
TRUE!!!
What did GOTTFRIED LEIBNITZ question?
The value of goodness
What two things did GOTTFRIED LEIBNITZ use to question the value of goodness?
1) Goodness can be devalued - if its solely that which God commands then it has no intrinsic value
As they do the action due to God not if morally right
2) If God wills one person to do one thing and wills another to do opposite, both acts despite contrary would be morally good . Rationally absurd
What does Robert Adams ‘modified divine command theory’ argue?
God would not decide to do anything against his nature as revealed in the Bible
What is an example backing Robert Adams argument of DCT
‘Jesus commands Christians love their enemies. God will not go against this and suddenly decide that killing them is OK’
