Moral arguments for the existence of god

Question 1

outline Owen’s argument

Answer 1

(P1) Morality consists of a set of commands.
(P2) For every command there is a commander.
(P3) Commands only carry as much authority as does their commander.
(P4) Morality carries ultimate authority.

Therefore:
(P5) The commander that commanded morality carries ultimate authority.
(P6) Only God carries ultimate authority.
Therefore:
(P7) The commander that commanded morality is God.
Therefore:
(C) God exists.

Question 2

Owen’s quote on commands

Answer 2

“it is impossible to think of a command without also thinking of a commander”

Question 3

What is William Lane Craig’s formal moral argument?

Answer 3

(P1) If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist.
(P2) Objective moral values do exist.
(C) Therefore, God exists.

Question 4

where is the flaw in Craig’s formal argument

Answer 4

he maintains that atheist cannot provide explanation for why murder and rape are wrong, but theists can point to the bible –> BUT no mention of rape prohibition in the bible

Question 5

outline Taylor’s argument from moral norms

Answer 5

analogy between legal and moral norms: a law is upheld by legal authorities, without whom legal code is meaningless –> only authority capable of upholding moral laws is god

Question 6

name the 4 criticisms to the formal moral argument

Answer 6

1. Is morality objective?
2. False dichotomy
3. Euthyphro’s dilemma - if things are good because god ordained them, moral argument falls apart because god isn’t necessary
4. How do we come to know god’s objective laws?

Question 7

Nietzche’s quote on morality

Answer 7

‘morality is the herd instinct of the individual’ –> we follow religion and morality to fit in, but this isn’t necessarily good

Question 8

name the criticisms against Taylor’s argument

Answer 8

1. Why judo-christian god?

2. Mill - obligation to uphold moral laws stems from our individual conscience

Question 9

mill’s quote on obligation to uphold moral laws

Answer 9

the individual conscience ‘does not originate in the will of a legislator or legislature external to the mind” –> moral laws unlike legal laws - we need to think of them as a psychological disposition

Question 10

Schellenberg

Answer 10

the fact that God’s reality is not obvious is a problem

Question 11

Fletcher’s view on conscience

Answer 11

we don’t actually have one - it’s just a word to describe our reasoning process

Question 12

John Henry Newman on conscience

Answer 12

argued for God’s existence based on conscience - since every human feels shame for wrongdoing, concludes that there must be some being ‘before whom such guilt is appropriate’

Question 13

st paul on conscience

Answer 13

suggested all humans have an inner witness to the law and conscience enables them to discern between right and wrong

Question 14

what are the two postulates of practical reason

Answer 14

autonomy, god and the afterlife

Question 15

Gerald jones on kant

Answer 15

introduces a ‘moral carrot’ - deontological this with a teleological aspect

Question 16

Brian davies on kant

Answer 16

kant’s argument in no way necessitates a JC god

Question 17

criticism of Kant based on fairness

Answer 17

what if the universe simply isn’t fair?

Question 18

out implies can and Kant

Answer 18

kant argues that us being obliged to aim for SB means it can be achieved; Brian Davies argues it is not irrational to aim for something which is not achievable