Divine Command Theory

Divine Command Theory Morality is independent

of what any individual thinks or likes and what any society happens to sanction

Do the gods love piety because it is pious

or is it pious because they love it?"

In other words, is a moral value "good" or "right" because God commands it to be so,

or is the moral value "good" or "right" independently of God's commands?

The second horn of the dilemma

runs into three main problems.

3 Main Problems Thirdly, it involves a form of reasoning that to explain the claim that murder is wrong

(or the prescription that one should not commit murder), in terms of what God has or hasn't said.

first horns Ethics, then has an integrity of its own.

By this account, if there is no God, then nothing changes; morality remains intact, and both theists and nontheists have the very same moral duties.

Ethics, then has an integrity of its own

God must obey the moral law, which exists independently of him.•We act morally for the same reason God does: We too follow moral reasons that are independent of God.•We are against torturing the innocent because it is cruel and unjust, just as God is against torturing the innocent because it is cruel and unjust.

virtues

behavior showing high moral standards

Divine Command Theory Morality derives from

from the will and command of God, which morality would not exist without

3 Main Problems First, it implies that what is good is arbitrary, based merely upon God's whim;

if God had created the world to include the values that rape, murder, and torture were virtues, while mercy and charity were vices, then they would have been.

Divine Command Theory Whatever the situation, if we do what God wills, then we do the right thing;

if we do not do what God wills, then, no matter what the consequences, we do wrong

vices

immoral or wicked behavior

The first horn of the dilemma

implies that morality is independent of God and, indeed, that God is bound by morality just as his creatures are.

Divine Command Theory Such God-established laws are generally interpreted

in a religious tradition and are often expressed in that religion's sacred scriptures.

3 Main Problems Secondly,

it implies that calling God good makes no sense (or, at best, that one is simply saying that God is consistent and not hypocritical).

By this account, if there is no God, then nothing changes;

morality remains intact, and both theists and nontheists have the very same moral duties.

Divine Command Theory God establishes moral laws;

they are universally binding for all people and are eternally true.

Divine Command Theory God determines

what is good and evil, right and wrong.