Divine Command Theory - a full critical analysis. (ref)
Give an account of its fundamental principles, its basic assumptions around human nature and the nature and structure of society, and consider both the historical context of its emergence and the ways it continues to influence contemporary moral philosophy as an intellectual tradition. An excellent paper will examine all of these dimensions in an organized and detailed presentation, appropriately citing sources, and taking the opportunity to critique the assumptions, principles, and legacy of the system on which you choose to focus
1. fundamental principles
2. basic assumptions around human nature and the nature and structure of society
3. consider both the historical context of its emergence and the ways it continues to influence contemporary moral philosophy as an intellectual tradition.
4. critique the assumptions, principles, and legacy of the system
CLASSNOTES (follow this link)
divine command theory
man proposes god disposes
the role of religion in society
Divine Command Theory is the view that morality is somehow dependent upon God,
and that moral obligation consists in obedience to God's commands.
Divine Command Theory includes the claim that morality is ultimately based on the commands or character of God, and that the morally right action is the one that God commands or requires.
The specific content of these divine commands varies according to the particular religion and the particular views of the individual divine command theorist, but all versions of the theory hold in common the claim that morality and moral obligations ultimately depend on God.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/
Thomas Aquinas
SUMMARY
Divine Command Theory- Morality originates with God. If God ceases so does morality. (Moral dilemma solved by asking if it is willed by God. If God said so then its moral).Reason plays little role in this.
Strengths of Divine Command Theory -Moral duties are absolute
-Preserves the sovereignty of God
-Provides moral law as well as motivation to follow it
Weaknesses of Divine Command Theory -Makes morality into something arbitrary.
-A lot of evil has been done by religious people in the name of religion.
-Religious morality closes off dialogue, can leads to group intolerance and threaten church-state separation.
Nietzsche - The madman the "death of god" allows us to think independently.
Plato: Euthyphro -"Is the good good because God loves it, or does God Love the good because it is good?"
-Socrates is saying that god loves the good because it is good - thus the good exists prior to and apart from God.
Religion and Reason relate to the following types of reasoning: Supremacy of religion states:
-Strong version: All morality is based on divine commands
-Weak version: Divine commands sometimes over-ride ethics (Kierkegaard)
Compatible theories state:
-Strong version: reason and religion are identical in content
-Weak version: Reason and religion may be different but do not contradict one another
Supremacy of Reason:
-Strong version: Ethics is only based on reason (Agnostic or Atheist).
-Weak version: Even God must follow the dictates of reason (Kant).
Resources
3. http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Divine_command_theory
5. DEFENSE - http://www.geocities.ws/mattperman/ethics.html
8. https://christianreasons.com/category/ethics/
9. http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/christian-ethics/divine-command-theory/
10. http://www.gotquestions.org/divine-command-theory.html
11. http://rightreason.org/2014/christianity-and-divine-command-theory/ - DEFENSE
12. http://rightreason.org/2011/divine-command-ethics-ontology-versus-epistemology/
13. http://www.skepticink.com/tippling/2014/02/26/the-problem-with-divine-command-theory-1/
ASSIGNMENTS
PHL 111 - Ethics
Spring 2016
Professor Benjamin Breault
We opened the course with a viewing of the first episode of the television series, Breaking Bad, first aired in 2008. The show received critical acclaim and a growing audience in part because of its provocative and compelling treatment of notions of morality and the concepts of good and evil. Indeed Breaking Bad functions as an extended meta-ethical meditation exploring and challenging the limits of entire ethical systems. Write an essay in the range of a thousand words (three to five pages) describing the contributions to moral philosophy of Breaking Bad, exploring the sorts of questions it asks its audience to ponder and assumptions it challenges. An excellent essay will not only give a detailed account of the ethical concerns engaged in the show's pilot but will also take the opportunity to cite relevant and significant features of the script or performance, using proper MLA formatting for all references.
Choose one of the ethical systems we have encountered in the course this semester and subject it to a full critical analysis. Give an account of its fundamental principles, its basic assumptions around human nature and the nature and structure of society, and consider both the historical context of its emergence and the ways it continues to influence contemporary moral philosophy as an intellectual tradition. An excellent paper will examine all of these dimensions in an organized and detailed presentation, appropriately citing sources, and taking the opportunity to critique the assumptions, principles, and legacy of the system on which you choose to focus.
Outline your own personal ethical code or system. Consider your choices in the context not only of your experience of self as an individual but also in your role as a member of society. Do you, for example, subscribe to a kind of virtue ethics or deontological approach, follow closely a Judeo-Christian tradition or a utilitarian system? And in what ways are your personal moral commitments echoed or contradicted in the larger public sphere of social life with its laws and codes. The relationship between these two spheres, public and private, is sometimes quite complicated and will be worth discussing in your exposition. Having now encountered a range of ethical problems and responses throughout the course, be sure to support your philosophical position and approach with reference to any one or perhaps several of these ethical systems. Incorporating more than one philosophy can certainly make sense, as we have witnessed how humans tends to piece together a patchwork of practices and beliefs in an effort to inhabit a workable or otherwise intelligible universe. As an existentialist might express it, our radical freedom condemns us to this Sisyphean effort. From the perspective of another tradition it might be said that because we are fallen from the Garden of Eden we find ourselves in need of redemption. Whatever our heritage, we find ourselves compelled to answer these questions: What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to live it well? How might one define goodness and what sort of spaces and traditions articulate it and promote it? Please use about a thousand words to reflect on and articulate your own perspective.
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