RE- Divine Command Theory

• Divine Command Theory- What ?

  Meta-ethical theory. what is goodness?, answer= what god commands
• Divine Command Theory-objective

  Objective theory. Right / Wrong comes from outside our own judgement. We dont decide, we discover. Actions= right or wrong regardless of what we think. God has decided what is right/wrong, morality depends upon god
• Divine Command Theory- Ockham

  He held a strict view - if god commanded theft and adultery = good then they're right to do. He says logically possible for god to change whats right and wrong at any time.
• Divine Command Theory-Divine Command

  God rules = we obey. Don't have to follow them as we have free will. if we are to live correctly we will follow god's commands.

  Right = commanded by god

  Wrong = forbidden by god
• Divine Command Theory-will

  Morailty= god's will. Actions aren't right or wrong in themselves , they're right or wrong because god has decided.
• Divine Command Theory- Omnipotence


  DCT= logical consequence of believeing in gods omnipotence. God = all-powerful, he can't be limited by anything,nothing has power over him
• Divine Command Theory-Reward

  DCT gives motivation to morality- gives reason to be moral. Ultimate reward = eternal life in heaven with god. Punishment = hell. Some argue we should be moral as its the right thing to do, not to be rewarded.
• Divine Command Theory- Modified

  Robert Adams switches gods omipotence to omnibenevolence as it overcomes the idea that god could command something evil like murder to become good. Adams stresses God's omnibenevolent arguing god could but never would command cruelty to be right.
• Divine Command Theory- weakness 1

  EUTHYPHRO DILEMMA

  Are the actions right so god commands them or are they right because god commands them ? Actions arent good/bad in themseleves but because god has commanded them to be, which doesnt seem acceptable.

  Goodness- independent of god- god commands good as thats what the rules tell him
• Divine Command Theory- weakness 2

  ARBITRARINESS PROBLEM

  Morality rests on gods moods. Murder was no more right than wrong until god commanded it to be wrong. He just made a choice, his command is arbitary. Theres no way of knowing if god will change his mind.
• Divine Command Theory- weakness 3

  PLURALISM PROBLEM

  Different interpretations of gods commands. Many religions may interpret differently. Different interpretations within religion. Christianity- 'do not kill' but does this include war ?
• Divine Command Theory- strength 1

  OBJECTIVITY ARGUMENT

  DCT based on truth. Avoids argument of whats right/wrong. Dont have to decide for ourselves. Simply right or wrong
• Divine Command Theory - strength 2

  RELIGIOUS ARGUMENT

  Based on traditional religious ideas about god. Morality depends upon god. If god = creator of everything then he's the creator of morality. Right and wrong cant just appear out of nowhere.
• Divine Command Theory- strength 3

  MOTIVATION ARGUMENT

  DCT gives us reasons to be moral. Without religion what's the reason for being good? Religion gives people a reason to be moral. With no divine commands we would just take the easy route of what's best for us.