Divine Command Theory (Lecture 2)

Question 1

What is the Divine Command Theory based on?

Answer 1

Based on the idea that ethics depend on God

Question 2

What must we assume to follow this theory?

Answer 2

That God exists
That He is an all powerful, all knowing being

Question 3

What would motivate us to follow God?

Answer 3

Fear or awe

Question 4

What defines the right thing to do in this theory?

Answer 4

Whatever God wants

Question 5

What are the advantages to this theory?

Answer 5

No individual reasoning (no room for different interpretations of situations)
Clear and direct guidelines

Question 6

What are some disadvantages of Divine Command Theory?

Answer 6

We dont know what God want
We dont know which interpretation is correct
We dont know for sure how to resolve ambiguous rules

Question 7

What’s is Platos question?

Answer 7

Is it good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?

Question 8

If we look at the first part of Platos question, what does it imply?

Answer 8

Is it good because God commands it
-Commandments/ rules are arbitrary, he could have just as easily chosen to say lying is good
-This is not a good reason for justifying ethical acts

Question 9

If we look at the second part of Platos question, what does it imply?

Answer 9

Does God command it because it is good
-implies that there is a standard of right and wrong independent of God
-he’s just the messenger, doesnt actually make the rules

Question 10

What does Platos question reveal about divine command theory?

Answer 10

That no matter which answer you pick, we still dont know why we follow the set of rules
-either God decided on a whim or for his own reasons or he’s following another guideline that we dont have reasoning for

Question 11

Is Divine Command Theory an effective or “good” theory? Why?

Answer 11

No
Doesn’t provide reasons for determining what is ethical, and this contradicts the idea of rationality (providing reasoning for choices)