Transcript DIVINE COMMAND ETHICS - University of Dayton

DIVINE COMMAND ETHICS
FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
GOD AND NATURE
• BASIC ORDER IN NATURAL PROCESSES
– STOIC LEGACY
• GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF NATURE AND NATURAL
PROCESSES
• NATURAL PROCESSES = MANIFESTATIONS OF
GOD’S WILL
PRINCIPLES AND LAWS
• PRINCIPLES GOVERNING ACTIONS ARE
DISCOVERED IN REFLECTING ON GOD’S WILL
• VIRTUE= CONFORMING TO GOD’S WILL
• LAW IS ABSOLUTE AND UNIVERSAL
• APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS, AT ALL TIMES,
REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES
CONSCIENCE
• SUBJECTIVE NORM OF MORALITY
– CONTRASTED TO OBJECTIVE NORM OF MORALITY
• ATTEMPT TO FORM CONSCIENCE PROPERLY IN
CONFORMITY TO OBJECTIVE MORAL ORDER
• CONSCIENCE BINDS --- EVEN IF IN ERROR