Essay Flashcards
What is DCT
DCT aims to explain features of moral life in terms of divine commands
Stephen Evans view on divine commands
Ontological view of the nature of moral obligations arguing that moral obligations are identical to divine commands
Key features of Evans’ view
Moral obligations have unique character
- objective
- have an overriding character
- Universal
Evans on Aristotle
Evans places emphasis on Aristotelean views of the good which argues that part of what makes God’s commands binding is that God in himself is essentially good
How does God’s commands being binding link to Evans’ DCT
Links to them having overriding character
Through them being obligatory and binding due to Gods essentially good nature, there is no need for further deliberation on why we should follow divine commands
Constructive views do not count for the overriding characteristic
Why don’t constructive views account for the overriding characteristic of divine command theory
If divine commands are overriding it is hard to see how an individual can build on their pre-existing knowledge like a constructive view of DCT argues for
Explain the idea that divine commands are universal
Some moral obligations extend to all humans such as the universal moral obligation to respect another’s autonomy as a moral agent
Explain about divine commands being objective
People can be mistaken about them
If one takes a meta-ethical stance DCT fails to tell us directly if God accepts abortion. Have to use divine commandments to work this out
Why is Evans’ DCT better than other DCT
No other DCT focusses in enough detail on the importance of these characteristics
Objection to Evans’ DCT
Euthyphro dilemma which was inspired by Plato’s dialogue
What is the Euthyphro dilemma
Either good things are good because God commands them, or God commands good things because they are good
What is wrong with good things being good because God commands them
Gods commands are arbitrary
They lack basis in good reason
There would need to be an explanation for why god commanded one thing rather than another
Eg. Why god commands us not to steal rather than steal food if it promotes happiness
What is wrong with God commanding good things because they are good
If gods commands are not based on any moral standard then they do not make sense of the claim that god is morally
Good
No role for divine commands to play in moral theory
God is no longer the author of ethics but as mere recogniser of right and wrong
Subject to external moral law like the rest of society
Problem with the advocate of DCT
Morality rests on arbitrary foundations or god is not the subject of moral law and is subject to external law which allegedly compromises his moral and metaphysical status
How would Evan overcome the Euthyphro dilemma
Needs to prove that there is a role for divine commands to play in moral theory even if God commands good things because they are simply good in themselves
