Divine Command Theory

Question 1

What is DCT?

Answer 1

An ethical theory that says that morality is dependent on God; moral goodness occurs when moral agents are obedient to God’s commands

Question 2

How is God the origin and regulator of morality?

Answer 2

All moral requirements come from God and we have a single obligation to obey God

Question 3

What do we have a single obligation to do?

Answer 3

Obey God

Question 4

Does DCT require a belief in free will?

Answer 4

Yes - we have free will to choose behaviours which are contrary to God’s command, but we should avoid these behaviours to be morally virtuous

Question 5

Give Biblical examples of God’s command

Answer 5

Exodus 20 - God commanded the Hebrews that they should not lie or steal
Matthew 22 - Jesus commands that people should love God and their neighbour

Question 6

How is morality objective according to DCT?

Answer 6

Morality is an objective, impartial law that is not dependent upon any limited human perspective

Question 7

What reason does DCT give for why we should do anything moral?

Answer 7

There will be divine punishment if the decrees are ignored or divine reward if they are obeyed

Question 8

What does meta-ethical mean?

Answer 8

Concerning the meaning of ethical terms, the nature of moral statements, and the foundations of moral principles

Question 9

What does normative mean?

Answer 9

Concerning the rules or principles that determine ethical attitudes and behaviour

Question 10

How can moral goodness be achieved?

Answer 10

Complying with divine command/Obeying God’s commands

Question 11

What meta-ethical claim does DCT make?

Answer 11

what God commands is the same as that which is good

Question 12

What normative claim does DCT make?

Answer 12

we ought to obey anything that God commands

Question 13

Is this claim normative or meta-ethical? “we ought to obey anything that God commands”

Answer 13

Normative

Question 14

Is this claim normative or meta-ethical? what God commands is the same as that which is good

Answer 14

Meta-ethical

Question 15

Why is divine command a requirement of God’s omnipotence?

Answer 15

If an omnipotent being exists then it would require obedience because all of the being’s commands would be morally perfect. It is logically coherent to say that an all-powerful creator God would have created the standard of morality for humanity and it must, therefore, be obeyed

Question 16

What are the 3 challenges to DCT?

Answer 16

Euthyphro dilemma, Arbitrariness problem, Pluralism objection

Question 17

What is the Euthyphro dilemma?

Answer 17

Based on the writings of Plato: a dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates about the nature of goodness. Euthyphro holds the view that “piety is that which id dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them”. Socrates then asks “whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods”

The idea that good is commanded by God because it is good is problematic because it suggests that good is a separate entity from God and God’s will. This would mean that God lives up to an extended and independent standard. Therefore humanity has no need for God

Question 18

What are the two ‘horns’ of the Euthyphro dilemma?

Answer 18

Good is commanded by God because it is good
Good is commanded by God therefore it is good

Question 19

What is the Euthyphro dilemma based on?

Answer 19

Based on the writings of Plato: a dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates about the nature of goodness. Euthyphro holds the view that “piety is that which id dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them”. Socrates then asks “whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods”

Question 20

What is the arbitrariness problem?

Answer 20

The statement that ‘good is commanded by God therefore it is good’ suggests that goodness is caused by God’s approval. This means that God could command anything and it would be called ‘good’ simply because God commanded it. Goodness becomes entirely arbitrary. If God commanded murder, Euthyphro would be forced to support his father’s actions

Question 21

What is the pluralism objection?

Answer 21

An objection to DCT that refers to the contradictory nature of God’s commands as claimed by different religions

Since there is no objective way of knowing which commands from the divine are correct, believers must decide for themselves through a process of deliberation and reasoning. This is no different from the process that a non-believer must do

Question 22

Give examples of religious commands and teachings being contradictory

Answer 22

Classical theism holds that there is one God but polytheism holds that there are many Gods.
Old vs New Testament food laws

Question 23

Who modified DCT?

Answer 23

Robert Addams

Question 24

What problems did Addams provide solutions to?

Answer 24

Arbitrariness problem

Question 25

What are the solutions provided by Addams to the arbitrariness problem?

Answer 25

1. It is logically impossible for God to command cruelty for its own sake, and so it seems senseless to debate it 2. God could only command cruelty for its own sake and, if God commanded it, we would be obliged to obey. (God just chooses not to) 3. God is omnibenevolent and would not command cruelty

Question 26

Why does Addams reject these two solutions: (he gives two reasons) It is logically impossible for God to command cruelty for its own sake, and so it seems senseless to debate it God could only command cruelty for its own sake and, if God commanded it, we would be obliged to obey. (God just chooses not to)

Answer 26

He sees no logical reason why it is impossible for God to command cruelty for its own sake. For it to be impossible, God's nature would have to be subject to an external standard of right and wrong, so that it would be wrong for God to command such cruelty. It is unacceptable in Christian thinking for God to be subject to any external standard it is wrong in Christian theology to assume that God could ever command cruelty because it does not reflect the Christian understanding of his nature

Question 27

What solution to the arbitrariness problem does Addams prefer?

Answer 27

God's command is based on his omnibenevolence

Question 28

Explain how divine command being based on God's omnibenevolence is a solution to the arbitrariness problem

Answer 28

DCT claims that the statement 'cruelty is wrong' = 'cruelty is against God's command'. Addams argues that this is only true when we assume that God is benevolent. If God did command cruelty then God will not be loving and therefore, it may be acceptable to disobey God. It is logically possible that God could command cruelty for its own sake, but it is unthinkable that God would do so because God is a loving God

Question 29

What is an advantage of Addams' position?

Answer 29

The content of moral judgements is not arbitrary. Moral commands arise from the very nature of God and so they cannot contain any random content.