1A Divine command theory

• Euthyphro dilemma

  • Challenge to the Divine command theory created by Plato
  • Characters Euthyphro and Socrates
  • Socrates asked 'is the holy approved by the God's because it is holy, or is it holy because it is approved?'
• Divine Command theory key premise: 


  Based on the belief that the standard of right or wrong is the will or law of God.

  There is an objective, absolute and universal standard of right based on Gods will.

  These rules are universal regardless of time and culture.

  It is our duty to obey rules commanded by God
• The theory is dependent on the belief that God is:


  Omnibenevolent

  Omnipotent

  Omniscient

  Omnipresent
• God has created all things; including the law 


  "God saw everything that he made, and it was very good" - Genesis 1
• All moral guidance from God instructs us how we live our life


  "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching...correction and training" - 2 Timothy
• Moral agents must follow the commandments laid out by God to be good


  This is deontological as it is concerned with the acts

  The definition of Right is commanded by God and what is wrong is forbidden

  No circumstances or good intentions can make acts forbidden by God right (countered by natural law - Doctrine of double effect)
• Robert Adam's Modified divine command theory 


  In response to the arbitrariness problem

  'There are certain expectations to the law of killing, made by the authority of God himself" - Augustine

  Adams argues that because morality is grounded in the character of God, who is perfectly good, then God's commands are rooted in God's character

  Since God is omnibenevolent, whatever God commands will reflect his character

  Goodness is an essential characteristic of God so morality reflects this - it is intrinsic to his omnibenevolent nature
• Challenges to DCT

  1. The Euthyphro dilemma
  2. The Arbitrariness problem
  3. Pluralism objection
• Explain the Euthyphro dilemma


  If the holy is approved because it is holy then it has an independent standard. God sees that truthfulness is right but does not make it right. If this is the case then why should we obey God?

  • this questions gods power and omnipotence as if he is not commanding goodness then he is observing it, and he did not create it.

  If the holy is good because it is approved by the Gods then this means that anything the Gods approve will be holy - they can command anything e.g lying, murder
• Challenges to the Euthyphro dilemma 


  Adams tries to counter this by saying nothing God commands would be bad

  Hard to apply to the monotheistic God as it only mentions 'Gods', not the christian God.
• The Arbitrariness problem


  God could command anything random and make it good. It does not have to have a special quality but has been decreed by God.
• Example of God saying murder is okay in the bible: 


  "I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made" Genesis 6 - Noahs ark
• Pluralism objective


  There are many different religions who each have a God with ultimate authority - how can we know which one is right?

  Christian God vs Hindu Shiva

  Different interpretations and contradictions within christian scripture alone
• Example of contradiction in scripture (pluralism objective)

  "Now kill all the boy. And kill every women who has slept with a man" Number 31 (Moses vs the Midianites as commanded by God) -OLD TESTAMENT

  "He said to them, "Let the little children come to me" Mark 10 - New testament
• Main strength of Divine command:

  It supports the monotheistic God - good for christianity, one of the largest denominations in the world

  Provides absolute and universal rules