Transcript Smith’s Invisible Hand

Religious
Moral Theories
Introduction to Philosophy
Jason M. Chang
Lecture Outline
1.
Background
2.
Divine command theory
3.
Euthyphro dilemma
4.
Natural law theory
Background
About divine command theory
and natural law theory
•
Religious
•
Non-consequentialist
•
Objective basis for morality
Divine Command Theory
(DCT)
Divine command theory (DCT)
•
History and origins
•
Basics of DCT
o
Definition of a morally right act
Morally right act = act
commanded by God
St. Augustine (354-430 AD)
Morally wrong act = act God
commands against
Divine command theory (DCT)
Stealing is wrong because God
commands against it
Homosexuality is wrong because
God commands against it (??)
Divine command theory (DCT)
Knowing God’s commands
o
Scripture
o
o
E.g., 10 commandments
Divine revelation
o
E.g., Pope, Prophet
The Euthyphro dilemma
Euthyphro dilemma
“The Euthyphro”
•
Plato (427-347 BC)
What the objection does
•
Points out an embarrassing
dilemma for DCT
Euthyphro dilemma
(A)
An act is morally
right because God
commands it
DCT’s definition
Morally right act =
act commanded by
God
(B)
God commands
the act because it
is morally right
(A)
An act is
morally right
because God
commands it
What makes an
act morally right?
God commanding
the act
Status of the act
before God
commanded it?
The act was
neither right nor
wrong
(B)
God commands
the act because
it is morally
right
Some moral standard
independent of God
(e.g., the act causes
happiness, respects
human rights)
The act was still
right even before
God commanded it
** Each interpretation poses problems for the DCT**
Euthyphro dilemma
The problem with (A)
God’s commands
make murder wrong
Before God commanded
against it, there was
nothing (no reason or
standard) that made
murder wrong
If there was nothing
(no reason or
standard) for God to
use, His command
against murder was
based on nothing
God’s command against
murder (and MORALITY
itself) is arbitrary and wily-nily
Euthyphro dilemma
The problem with (B)
Some moral standard
independent of God
makes murder wrong
God was restricted by
this independent moral
standard when issuing
His commands
Being restricted by the
moral standard, God
could not have
commanded murder
or torture to be
morally right
There exists a standard above God.
God is not omnipotent
Euthyphro dilemma
The dilemma for DCT
(A)
An act is morally
right because God
commands it
(B)
God commands
the act because it
is morally right
Moral right and wrong are
arbitrary and wily-nily
God is not omnipotent
Are there other religious moral theories
available?
Natural Law Theory
(NLT)
Natural law theory (NLT)
•
Morality of Catholic Church
•
St. Thomas Aquinas
•
Definition of a morally right act
Morally right act = act that
follows the dictates of nature
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD)
Natural law theory (NLT)
Major idea #1: All things in nature
direct themselves toward a telos
•
Telos (τέλος)
o
God-given
o
Part of the natural order
Natural law theory (NLT)
Major idea #2: A thing’s telos
provides a standard for judging
•
Flourishing (“good”) vs.
deficient (“bad”)
•
Objective standard
What does human flourishing consist
of ?
Natural law theory (NLT)
Major idea #3: Human flourishing
consists of:
•
Self-preservation (of life and health)
•
Reproducing and raising children
•
Seeking knowledge (including of God)
•
Cultivating social relationships
Natural law theory (NLT)
Morally wrong acts are those
that deviate from these Godgiven natural human aims
Self-preservation (of life and health)
Reproducing and raising children
Seeking knowledge (including of God)
Cultivating social relationships
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Suicide
Abortion
Birth control
Homosexuality
Masturbation
Murder
Lying
Natural law theory (NLT)
Major idea #4: Humans can
understand God’s natural law and
live accordingly
•
Similarities to other living
things
•
Differences with other living
things