ESSAY PLAN FOR LINK BETWEEN R&M

• Intro: issue of whether morality + religion are linked = perennial issue

  • Many theories have been proposed a link
  • These are NML + DCT
  • Can be argued that ultimately link between R&M is flawed due to questions raised on God's authority + issues of generalisability
• P1: Explain ethical monotheism, Outline DCT, include Brunners quote

  • idea that R&M are linked stems from ethical monotheism, a belief that there is One Moral God and that he directly reveals his moral laws to us
  • DCT, devised by many philosophers including augustine, states that morality stems from God's commands, as he is the ultimate lawgiver + perfect moral being
  • An action is good because god commands it and therefore we are motivated to follow it, this motivation is reinforced by threat of punishment + reward (afterlife)
  • Morality is therefore independent + objective
• P2: Criticism of DCT from euphyro's dilemma, arbitrary commands, leibniz quote,

  • This link between r+m is qualified due to problems raised by DCT, it is expounded by Euphypro’s dilemma, which asks ‘is x good because god wills it, or does God will it bcz it is good?
  • First question proposes God as inventor of morality and that his will makes actions good, if we follow this, the rationality of his commands can be raised as they may be abitrary. As Leibniz questions why we should “praise god for what he has done if he would be equally as praiseworthy for doing opposite'
• P2: What are other criticisms from Euphyro's dilemma?

  • If x is intrinsically good, Morality is independent of God
  • God refers to goodness and morality in his commands, raises question of his omnipotence
  • Many individuals suggest that religious commands refer to universal morality in an attempt to appear more credible
• P3: introduce NML, avoids problem of Euphyro's dilemma, right reason + Mackie

  • A second theory which p's the link between r&m = NML
  • Developed by Aquinas' in 12th century
  • Avoids issue of euphyro's dilemma as it states that God endowed individuals w/ right reason to do good + evoid evil (synderisis) therefore avoiding issues of his abitrary commands
  • We use right reason to work out telos and act accordingly
  • Grants humans more freedom as autonomous moral agents
  • Prevents us from being 'conformist slaves' to a 'capricious tyrant'
• P4: Weaknesses, Neilson, Final telos is God, different purposes/telos

  • Neilson: NML is flawed as it depends on common human nature, which doesn't exist as it is subjective and a culture phenomena, we do not all have right reason - link between r&m fails
  • Final telos = God, meaning that it is not accesible to all, e.g athiests
  • Fails to recognise multiple purposes, one may interpret purpose of sex to be pleasure not reproduction, therefore what the 'right purpose' is subjective to all