What is Divine Command Theory?
Divine Command Theory that the existence of a God or gods command the moral behavior in people. An act is only okay if a God or gods allow it to be, as long as that behavior is in line with the divine will of that being then the action is okay. This solves the objectivity in ethics as well as holding people accountable for their actions.
Examples of Divine Command Theory?
The Bible and other religious texts are important examples of Divine Command Theory. A woman who kills her child or another person claiming that God told her to do it would be another example of Divine Command Theory, this is because the Divine Will of a Being would dictate the actions of the followers.
Arguments against it
An important and strong argument against divine command theory comes in the form of a question. This question is asked by Socrates; Is conduct right because the gods command it or do the gods command it because it is right? This questions makes two major points against Divine Command theory.
1) God decides what is morally correct but then His laws are arbitrary.
2) God follows a moral rule, He is bound by it. This means that He is no longer omnipotent because the morality that He follows binds His power.
This question also makes the point that the conception of morality is mysterious, makes God's commands arbitrary and provides the wrong reason for moral principles. If your God said that stealing, killing, and pillaging was okay, is that moral? No it is not.
What is the Theory of Natural Law?
The Theory of Natural Law states that the world has a natural order with every purpose, value, need, and want built into it from the moment of creation. Everything has a purpose for being, a wall wants nothing more than to be a wall and that is the only reason that it exists. The laws of nature describe how everything is and ought to be. To cast aside the command of the gods s equal to condemning them.
Arguments against it
How can everything in nature be good? There is death and disease, many things in nature can kill you. The view of the world also conflicts with modern science. A major argument against it is the fact that what is the case and what ought to be the case are very different. Facts are one thing but the values of a people or even a single person are another.
What we think!
I don't like Divine Command Theory because people would rely on the religious texts to much. This would completely take reason out of ethical situations. Even if a group of people believed in Divine Command Theory they would be able to warp what the religious scripture says to fit their values of the time.
Divine Command Theory that the existence of a God or gods command the moral behavior in people. An act is only okay if a God or gods allow it to be, as long as that behavior is in line with the divine will of that being then the action is okay. This solves the objectivity in ethics as well as holding people accountable for their actions.
Examples of Divine Command Theory?
The Bible and other religious texts are important examples of Divine Command Theory. A woman who kills her child or another person claiming that God told her to do it would be another example of Divine Command Theory, this is because the Divine Will of a Being would dictate the actions of the followers.
Arguments against it
An important and strong argument against divine command theory comes in the form of a question. This question is asked by Socrates; Is conduct right because the gods command it or do the gods command it because it is right? This questions makes two major points against Divine Command theory.
1) God decides what is morally correct but then His laws are arbitrary.
2) God follows a moral rule, He is bound by it. This means that He is no longer omnipotent because the morality that He follows binds His power.
This question also makes the point that the conception of morality is mysterious, makes God's commands arbitrary and provides the wrong reason for moral principles. If your God said that stealing, killing, and pillaging was okay, is that moral? No it is not.
What is the Theory of Natural Law?
The Theory of Natural Law states that the world has a natural order with every purpose, value, need, and want built into it from the moment of creation. Everything has a purpose for being, a wall wants nothing more than to be a wall and that is the only reason that it exists. The laws of nature describe how everything is and ought to be. To cast aside the command of the gods s equal to condemning them.
Arguments against it
How can everything in nature be good? There is death and disease, many things in nature can kill you. The view of the world also conflicts with modern science. A major argument against it is the fact that what is the case and what ought to be the case are very different. Facts are one thing but the values of a people or even a single person are another.
What we think!
I don't like Divine Command Theory because people would rely on the religious texts to much. This would completely take reason out of ethical situations. Even if a group of people believed in Divine Command Theory they would be able to warp what the religious scripture says to fit their values of the time.