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Divine Command Theory

Divine Command Theory. God as the origin and regulator of morality Right and wrong as o bjective truths based on God’s will. III. Moral goodness is achieved by complying with divine command iv. Divine command as a requirement of God’s omnipotence

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Divine Command Theory

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  1. Divine Command Theory • God as the origin and regulator of morality • Right and wrong as objective truths based on God’s will III. Moral goodness is achieved by complying with divine command iv. Divine command as a requirement of God’s omnipotence v. Divine command as an objective metaphysical foundation of morality Morality is determined by God The commands are usually found in sacred texts. Frankena‘the standard of right and wrong is the will or law of God.’ For example - The only way to be morally good is to follow God’s command e.g. Punishment for those who don’t and reward for those who do. Grayling (page 4) DCT is a natural consequence of God’s omnipotence – this means God has power over everything – otherwise there would be something else more powerful Morality is not influenced by personal choices and humans have no moral authority only God William of Ockham ‘With Him a thing becomes right solely because He wants it so.’ Objective – moral facts Metaphysical – what lies beyond the physical world – not testable

  2. Robert Adams – Check your chunk 1. God is all-loving – based on the assumption that God loves humanity. ‘Any action is ethically wrong if and only if it is contrary to the commands of a loving God’. 2. So evil deeds can never be good Some actions and perhaps intentions and individual possess the property of ethical wrongness – if contrary to the commands of a loving God 3. Action is wrong if it goes against the commands of a loving God is a necessary truth – rather than being on contingent truth (this is a stronger claim as contingent truths are dependent on other things) It aims to solve the problems of the Euthyphro Dilemma 4. Horn 1 – if an action is only right as God commands it, then morality becomes arbitrary Adam’s modified DCT avoids this problem as morality is not just based on the commands of God but is rooted in God’s unchanging omnibenevolence. So, morality is not arbitrary, nor could God command cruelty. It would not be possible for an omnibenevolent God to command cruelty. Horn 2 – there is a separate standard of goodness. God is the source of morality as morality originates from the character of God. Moral law is a feature of God’s nature

  3. Aristotle – pupil of Plato Virtue Theory- Introduction Overview Key scholars for virtue ethics Define with examples what is meant by the term virtue

  4. Key terms recap Discuss a definition for . . . • Objective • Absolutist • Moral decision making based on consequences is called _______________ or ____________________________ • Modified

  5. Virtue TheoryTime to check your knowledge • What is a virtue? • How do we develop virtues? • What is Eudaimonia? • What is the Golden mean? • Give an example of a virtue that achieves the Golden mean. • What are the Beatitudes? • Where could we find Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes? • Why do some people believe it is compatible with virtue theory? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  6. Context • 4th Century B.C • Athens – Capital of Ancient Greece

  7. Virtue Theory –Key ideas • Places it’s emphasis on ‘practise’ and ‘habit’ as opposed to laws written in human nature or universal norm • Focuses on the agent (person)and not the act • Focuses on how we are good people • Appreciates the room for cultural relativity • Aims to help humans and societies reach eudaimonia

  8. What is a virtue? Or vice? A quality considered morally good or desirable in a person. E.g. Patience is a . . . Can you think of any other examples? What is a vice? Can you think of any examples?

  9. An example of virtue theory in practice Lying (alternative truth!) What would deontologist say about lying? What would a teleologist say about lying? A follower of virtue theory would claim . . .

  10. The Golden Mean Look at the examples on page 21 • Courage – better than an excess or a lack • Can you think of your own examples where you have applied the Golden mean in your own lives? The Golden mean produces three types of people Sophron– naturally lives in the mean without effort Enkrates – who is tempted but has enough will power to live in the mean Akrates– a weak person who cannot live in the mean

  11. Moral and intellectual virtues Moral virtues – through habit You do not need to know them all Intellectual virtues – through education Intelligent or insight Scientific knowledge by demonstration or conclusion Wisdom Artistic endeavour through the guidance of reason Prudence i.e. common sense • Courage • Temperance • Liberality • Generosity • Pride • Right ambition • Patience • Truthfulness • Wittiness • Friendliness • Modesty • Righteous indignation Justice – an outcome of virtuous behaviour

  12. Four key (cardinal) virtues Write a definition of each term in your own words - Temperance – Courage Justice Wisdom

  13. Starter taskRole models Nelson Mandala – Invictus example Use the link on the website • Nelson Mandala • Nelson Mandala Invictus What character traits typified Nelson Mandela? What is your philosophy of leadership? How does this relate to character and the virtues? How could others develop these virtues?

  14. Jesus’ teaching on virtues There is a long history of encouraging virtues in the Christian tradition, much of it can be traced back to the Old Testament. Although Christianity is often thought of as having many rules and commandments in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus promotes inward qualities or virtues. Life of Brian

  15. The Sermon on the Mount • Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  16. Jesus’ virtues and explanations

  17. Evaluating Virtue Theory

  18. AO1/2 To what extent is Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean a doctrine of moderation? The Golden Mean is not easy to apply to all virtues. For instance, whilst courage is a mean between cowardice and foolhardiness, is there always a mean virtue? Aristotle seems to recommend that we always strive to feel neither too much nor too little but rather the moderate amount: hence a little fear but not too much, a little pleasure but not too much, a little anger but not too much. Does this work in all situations? But there are some situations embodying injustice, which should provoke extreme anger in us, just as there are situations which rightly prompt us to feel extreme fear. The doctrine of the mean involves more than quantity. The mean, the intermediate, is a matter of having feelings of anger, pity, confidence (and so on) "at the right times, about the right things, towards the right people, for the right end, and in the right way“ How did Aristotle believe humans could be truly virtuous? The truly virtuous person, however, is not just the one who achieves the relative mean in her feelings and actions. She must also receive pleasure in doing so. A person, who finds it painful to stand firm in terrifying situations, even if she succeeds in doing so, is nevertheless cowardly. Thus acting virtuously is something that must be done, as it were, in the right spirit.

  19. AO1/2 Criticisms of Aristotle’s View Aristotle’s theory has had many criticisms levelled at it over the centuries. The other major criticisms are:• Aristotle gives no guidance in situations where virtues conflict andwhere people need rules to guide their actions – not action guiding.• The virtues valued by Aristotle are mainly masculine ones such asbravery and honour. Little credit is given to feminine virtues such ashumility and empathy. – Can you evaluate this? • It produces a selfish theory, which places greater emphasis on personal development than the effect that a person’s actions may have on others.

  20. AO1 Virtue Theory - Developing Skills Explain Virtue Theory – Aristotle and Jesus A focus on outlining the challenges to virtue theory – inc. teleological and deontological Virtue theory is an ethical system based on _________. It can be challenged in three key ways It is not a practical guide to moral behaviour It can also be challenged for highlighting the issue of cultural relativism Additionally, virtues could be used for immoral acts . . . Finally, other challenges include . . Virtue theory is a not __________ or __________ It focuses on ___________ Virtues are ____________ We can be virtuous by ________ Aristotle identified the Golden ___ He divided virtues into _______ and intellectual. They include __________ Christianity is often seen as a rule based ethical system. However in the __________ on the Mount Jesus ____

  21. Virtue Theory Jesus’ virtues Aristotle – moral virtues C Temperance Liberality G Pride Right a P Truthfulness W F M Righteous i P_______ in ________ M____________ M_______ H________ ___ _________ for __________ M_________ P_____ __ ________ P___________ P__________ ___ ____ _______

  22. AO2 Whether being a good person is better than just doing good deeds. Whether virtue theory is useful when face with a moral dilemma 1.Definition of a moral dilemma and link to virtue theory 2. Beatitudes not useful 3. Aristotle’s virtues not useful 4. Focusing on virtues and having not rules is confusing However, 5. It can work with other Christian moral teachings 6. It focuses on the wellbeing of others – altruism 7. Aquinas 8. Role models Conclusion • Challenge to traditional views • Problems with following rules • Advantages of following rules • Developing virtues is better • The importance of role models • Summary of problem • Conclusion

  23. Key termsLink words together • Aristotle, Intellectual, telos, Sermon on the mount, Moral, Eudaimonia, Agent-centred, Beatitudes, Role models, good life, Martin Luther King, Vices, Virtues, Sophron, Akrates, Enkrates, 4 key virtues, blessed are the meek, poor in spirit, hunger for righteousness, pure of heart, Golden mean

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