Relationship between religion and morality Flashcards
What is the Euthyphro dilemma?
n his dialogue, Euthyphro, Plato posed a problem which has had great philosophical implications
During a discussion between Socrates and Greek religious prophet Euthyphro, E proposes the following problem…
‘Is what is pious loved by the Gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved?’
What does it ask in plainer English?
Are things good because they are commanded by God? Is morality dependent on religion?
Does God only command things which are good? Is morality independent of religion? This can’t be the case if God is to be omnipotent
Who decides what is good in the dependent universe?
God. Good things are good because God decided that they were
What is the radical implication of this idea?
Radical implication is that God could demand that we do something that society considers immoral. If God said torturing an innocent child was good, we would be compelled to do it
How does divine command theory fit into the DU
The divine command theory says moral rules are true because they are commanded by God
Give a quote from Emil Bruner that supports divine command theory
‘The good will consists in always doing what God wills at any particular moment’ (Emil Brunner, 1947)
What are the two main implications of the DU for morality?
If they were not commanded by God then they would be amoral
If God commanded the opposite of what he did command, then morality would have been the other way around
What do moral commands appear to be?
Arbitrary
Why is this an uncomfortable implication?
Surely torturing babies is wrong intrinsically rather than just being commanded by God
Give an example of one of the philosophers who thinks that morality cannot be based on authority alone
Kant thinks that morality is based on reason
What does Ayer say in support of the idea that morality can’t be based on authority alone?
‘No morality can be founded on authority, even if the authority were divine’
Why do they think that morality can’t depend on authority?
Commanding something doesn’t make it morally right
Why does Liebnez think the DU harms the idea of God being praiseworthy?
Why praise God if he would be equally praiseworthy for doing the contrary. Destroys the idea of God’s glory without realising
What is the counter to the idea that it seems illogical that God could choose for it to be a moral obligation to torture children?
Because he is omnipotent
Why does IU think exists in terms of morality?
External standard of good that exists independent on God
How does God relate to this idea?
God loves acts that fit this standard. He must command that which is good
Why does it counter the idea of omnipotence
since he cannot decide for himself what is good
Why would Plato have supported the IU model?
Plato was an absolutist and believed in a set of absolute moral rules which are true in themselves and bit by virtue of being commanded
Why might the IU lead to people being less willing to follow moral laws?
Because we have no heteronomous reason for doing so
Why does God seem limited by the IU?
God seems diminished because he defers to a higher set of absolutes. Challenges omnipotence
God no longer has an absolute nature because moral rules hold this position
List the three options when it comes to religion and morality
- Morality and religion are dependent on one another and cannot exist without each other
- Religion and morality are independent and exist separately of each other
- Religion is opposed to morality - religion and morality exist separately but religion leads to morality
Which two options does the Euthyphro dilemma show?
The DU and the IU
What position is 3rd option associated with?
The anti theist position that became popular at the turn of the century
Explain the idea of the DU
God gets to decide what is good. Something is good purely because God decided. The radical implication is that he could command something society would find immoral