PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Normative Ethics, Cultural Relativism, Descriptive Ethics
Document Summary
Informing people of terminal conditions: burial practices, conclusion: morality is relative to each culture. A(cid:272)hels(cid:859) (cid:374)e(cid:454)t (cid:373)o(cid:448)e is to (cid:272)o(cid:374)side(cid:396) p(cid:396)o(cid:271)le(cid:373)ati(cid:272) If r is true, then implications (x,y,z) follow (x,y,z) is false: therefore r is false. Divine command theory: first horn: god/a divine being commands people to do what is right, because the action is right, endorsed by some religions. Euthyphro dilemma: second horn: god(cid:859)s (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)a(cid:374)d(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts, si(cid:373)pl(cid:455) as su(cid:272)h, (cid:272)(cid:396)eate (cid:373)o(cid:396)al (cid:396)e(cid:395)ui(cid:396)e(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts, difficulties, arbitrariness. Euthyphro dilemma: either the commandments of a divine being are arbitrary, or morality exists independently of the will of the divine being, morality seems to have an independent status from the will of anyone/anything. Implications of the euthyphro dilemma: the euthyphro dilemma challenges a very specific claim (i. e. the will alone can create obligations) It does not refute some closely related ideas: we have reasons to follow the commandments of god, religion is important source of moral knowledge.
