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Divine Command Theory. General questions about morality: What kinds of actions are morally right/wrong? Why? In virtue of what (are they right/wrong)? Are there objective truths about morality? Divine command theory argues that the foundation of morality is God’s will
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Divine Command Theory • General questions about morality: • What kinds of actions are morally right/wrong? • Why? In virtue of what (are they right/wrong)? • Are there objective truths about morality? • Divine command theory argues that the foundation of morality is God’s will • Right acts are those that are in accordance with God’s Will; Wrong acts…
Socrates’ Question • Are actions right because God commands them, or does God command them because they are right? • According to divine command theory, an act is right (if it is) because God commands it. God’s command makes it right.
Rachels’ Objections • 1. “This conception of morality is mysterious” • 2. ….makes God’s commands arbitrary • 3 …provides the wrong reasons
Natural law Theory • Aristotle’s teleological account of the universe • Everything that exists has a telos (purpose) • The Telos of a thing specifies what it ought to be. • The human telos specifies what I ought to be, how I ought to live.
Rachels’ Objections • Sometimes what is natural is bad. • Natural for children to be self-centered • Natural diseases • Confusing is and ought • Descriptive: People are naturally benevolent • Normative: People ought to be benevolent • Modern science eliminates teleology