Religion and Morality Flashcards
Deontological meaning?
- duty based ethics
- are concerned with what people do, not with the consequences of their actions
- non-consequentialist approach
Teleological meaning?
- based on two principles
1) whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of the task
2) the more good consequences an act produces, there more right the act is
Outline the relationship between religion and morality
- It has been claimed that to be religious is to be committed to a set of moral values which ultimately like religion and morality together.
- A common argument advanced is that the authority of God is needed as a bedrock for any moral system - Dostoeysky fears that without God anything becomes permitted.
- Others such as Dawkins would argue that religion is opposed to morality - people think it is possible to have a system of ethics that is free from the influence of religion.
What is theonomy?
The idea that out moral codes should come from religion and God
Outline how religion and morality are linked
- On a general level it is true to say that all religions concern themselves with moral behaviour and provide their followers with moral codes to follow - linking religion and morality together.
- When ethical issues; poverty and the refugee crisis was raised, people look to religion and churches to make a stand as these people are seen as sources of moral authority
- The key idea that links God and morality is the idea expressed by Aquinas and other, that without the idea of God, all moral codes lose authority.
Outline the divine command theory
- The DCT takes God to be a source of ethics.
It is argued that there are no morals other than what God commands. - It provides clear-cut definitions of what is or is not the right thing to do
“The good consists in always doing what God wills at any particular moment”.
Arguments against the divine command theory
- The general criticisms of this theory is that is assumes the existence of God.
- If you don not agree that God exists, the theory is then redundant.
- it is also based on religious scriptures like the Bible and the Qur’an where the commandments of God are found.
- these are argued to not providing a clear and coherent ethical code.
Outline the Euthyphro Dilemma
It asks the question does God love good things because they are good or are things good because God commands them?
When the first approach is taken, then you deny the basic premise of divine command ethics as it states that there is goodness determined independently by God.
How does the Euthyphro Dilemma challenge the divine command theory?
It causes a problem for DCT as it holds that there is something outside of God, over which God has no control - God is not fully omnipotent.
By taking this position, it denies God is necessary for morality.
What is natural moral law?
NML is considered to be the natural law of right reason, with God being the author and judge.
Aquinas’s theory is based on ethicacy actions and natural and natural law as a moral code existing within nature.
This law claims to aid humans to direct their actions in such a way so they can reach their destiny with God.
This ultimately creates a relationship between religion and morality.
What were Aquinas’s primary and secondary rules?
Aquinas developed primary rules to help humans reach God.
- The primary precepts include reproduction, self preservation, education and to live in a society by worshipping God.
- Aquinas’s basic message is to do good and avoid evil.
- Secondary precepts were developed following the primary ones which included masterbation, contraception and gay sex was wrong as it dos follow reproduction and the creation of new life which is what God has planned.
Outline how religion is opposed to morality
- The idea that religion is opposed to moral behaviour emerged with Karl Marx suggesting that religion hides and justifies the reality of inequality and is used as a tool of oppression.
- Religion makes oppressed people believe they deserve their oppression which makes them reluctant to rebel by promising them a reward in the afterlife.
- Sigmund Freud put forward a similar idea that religion is a psychological defense system for people who are too afraid to face the reality of their sexuality and mortality.
- With God being a psychological projection of our feelings about our own fathers which keeps us in an childlike state and prevents progression.
General criticisms of religion and morality not being linked
It is claimed that God/religion is not necessary for morality to exist, for example Kantian ethics - which does not need religion for God to exist.
There are many religious individuals who do immoral things in the name of god - Westboro Baptist Church who attacks anyone who supports homosexulaity.
Modern ethical research is not covered by God or religious scriptures, including stem cell research.
- It is easy to question whether there is even a ink between religion and morality.
