PHIL1001 Lecture 2: Arguments Against Divine Command Theory
PART I – Recap of DCT + Advantages
A statement of the DCT
An act, x, is morally right if and only if x does not violate any of God’s commands.
Positives:
Makes sense of the common thought that morality is closely tied to religion and/or
God.
oClose tie between morality and religion – not really in Australia – high in
other countries.
Makes it possible to understand morality as a kind of law.
Supports the objectivity of morality not up to us to decide what’s morally
right/wrong.
Potentially vindicates the belief that moral obligations imply reasons for
acting/actions.
PART II – Several Quick Worries about DCT
Worry 1:
Does the wrongness of (e.g.) torture for fun really hang on whether or not God
exists?
Worry 2:
Do we not count as knowing that torture for fun is wrong until we know that God
exists, and know what God commands?
Worry 3:
Even if God commands us (e.g.) not to lie, is God’s command really the reason it is
wrong to lie?
PART III – The Euthyphro Dilemma for DCT
Comes from a dialogue of Plato’s.
Euthyphro’s theory of piety:
“…What is dear to the gods is pious, what is not [dear to the gods] is impious”
Socrates question: “is the pious loved by the gods because its pious, or is it pious
because it is loved by the gods?”
Are certain acts morally obligatory because they are commanded by God?
a) God commands x-ing makes it the case x-ing is obligatory.
oOR
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Part i recap of dct + advantages. An act, x, is morally right if and only if x does not violate any of god"s commands. Makes sense of the common thought that morality is closely tied to religion and/or. God: close tie between morality and religion not really in australia high in other countries. Makes it possible to understand morality as a kind of law. Supports the objectivity of morality not up to us to decide what"s morally right/wrong. Potentially vindicates the belief that moral obligations imply reasons for acting/actions. Part ii several quick worries about dct. Part iii the euthyphro dilemma for dct. What is dear to the gods is pious, what is not [dear to the gods] is impious . Socrates question: is the pious loved by the gods because its pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? . God is bound to the laws of logic: dct loses explanatory power. b. i.
