The Divine Command Theory

Question 1

Define the ‘divine command theory’

Answer 1

humans should live their lives in conformity to the will of God as revealed in the Bible

Question 2

What is the Euthyphro Dilema

Answer 2

it questions whether God commands an action because it is right, or is it right because God commands it

Question 3

Ockham’s view

Answer 3

• as God was free he could hypothetically decree that what we consider to be evil is good
• uses examples of theft and adultery
• however, he does not consider God’s definition as being omnibenevolent

Question 4

What are classic monotheists view of this theory

Answer 4

• they argue that of divine essentialism = where moral perfection is essential to the divine nature of God
• yet is he necessarily divine?

Question 5

John Arthur’s view

Answer 5

• “If God approves kindness because it is a virtue and hates the Nazis because they were evil, then it seems that God discovers morality”
• this places God under a higher moral law

Question 6

Louise Antony’s view

Answer 6

• argues that religious believers do not actually believe in this theory
• she uses the example of Abraham and his son - could further her argument by saying that God originally stated “thou shall not kill” => makes God’s commandments contradictory and as a result meaningless
• seen out of context as a set of rules that need to be obeyed makes the commandments look arbitrary

Question 7

Wilson’s view

Answer 7

we now have scientific evidence that shows how morality has developed from our evolutionary past making morality a human invention

Question 8

C.S Lewis’ DCT

Answer 8

• existence of moral duties means God’s existence is self-evident
• no other explanation for the existence of moral duties other than God
• Nature can’t provide us with moral duty => it is something outside the world i.e: God

Question 9

Strength of DCT

Answer 9

+ theologically coherent DCT, particularly if you want the God of classical theism
+ scriptural and cultural argument: 10 commandments and Jesus’ teachings, the fact that these have resonated throughout history shows that there is some aspect of authority form God commands

Question 10

Weaknesses of DCT: God’s commands are an arbitrary base for morality

Answer 10

• Moral duty is a COMMAND of God, wouldn’t normally say a duty comes from command would say it comes through reason
• CP: Points to God’s special authority as the creator (original sin)
  Omni-benevolent (all good) => not an arbitrary source of goodness, he is the definition of goodness
• By what measurement are God’s commands goodness, as he has defined himself as omnibenevolent => not a good solution to arbitrary argument. Need an external measurement independent of God

Question 11

Kai Nielsen

Answer 11

• an external judgement is needed
• where do we discover God’s law/commands?
  
  • scripture has been written by humans at different points in history (liberal theologians)
  • fundamentalists claim that the Bible is the word of God where their authority is based on the Bible which is the word of God => becomes circular

Question 12

Weaknesses of DCT: God’s commands could become abhorrent

Answer 12

2. God’s commands could become abhorrent
   - If DCT is correct, God could define murder as good => we all have a duty to murder
   - Examples of abhorrent commands: Abraham and Issac
   - Terrorism from fundamental religious groups have been done in the name of God => abhorrent

Question 13

Phillip Quine’s view

Answer 13

• God is creator and sovereign of entire universe and that is why his commands give us moral duties
• Admits God’s commands can be arbitrary/accepts that scripture can be contradictory but he is grounded in goodness => he will always do the right thing because of it
• Any ultimate basis of any metaethical theory will always be arbitrary
• remains circular