Module 13 - Divine Command Theory

Question 1

Divine Command Theory

Answer 1

ethical theory that takes God’s approval as its moral standard
Bridge Statement: an act is right iff and act is approved by God

Question 2

the Revealed Religion

Answer 2

God’s approval being made known by either a revealed text (Torah, Bible, Quran) or a person (prophet)

Question 3

Theoretical Criticism of Divine Command Theory

Answer 3

Euthyphro Dilemma

Question 4

Euthyphro Dilemma

Answer 4

Shows that God’s approval as a moral standard is incompatible with objective morality.

Named after Euthryphro (athenian priest) who appeared in writings of plato. Socrates questioned Euthyphro and shows him that the relationship btwn holiness (or goodness to some –>now called the Euthyphro Dilemma) and God’s approval is not as clear as Euthyphro had thought

Question 5

Practical Criticism of Divine Command Theory

Answer 5

it is not possible for philosophers to determine what God’s approval is (claims of religions conflict) –> resolving these claims is a task for theology (not philosophy)

Question 6

The Euthyphro Dilemma’s relationships btwn God’s approval and goodness

Answer 6

1. God’s approves an act because it is good (means that the goodness of the act was due to another moral standard(not God’s approval))
2. God’s approval of an act makes it good (means goodness is determined by God’s arbitrary approval, and that the moral standard is arbitrary)