Higher RMPS The Euthyphro dilemma

Learning intentions After today’s lesson you will be able to: explain the background to the Euthyphro dilemma explain the Euthyphro dilemma explain the terms ‘absolute’ and ‘relative’ morality.

The background Euthyphro was a man who brought his father to court for killing a slave. Euthyphro was adamant that this action was wrong and his father should be punished according. He believed his father’s action was impious or unholy. Socrates is a famous philosopher who is believed to have been responsible for the start of philosophy. Socrates wanted Euthyphro to define the terms ‘pious’ and ‘impious’, for which he wanted his father charged. Euthyphro defined piety as ‘what is pleasing to the gods’.

But Socrates responded… with what has become known as the Euthyphro dilemma when he said… Socrates ‘is something pious because it is pleasing to the gods or is it pleasing to the gods because it is pious?’

In other words… Is something good because God says it is good or does God say it is good because it is good?

A Problem for Christianity? If it is good because God says it is good, does this mean that God could change his mind about what is right? If it is good because it is already good then is there a higher moral authority than God?

Divine command theory There are lots of people who have done things which are considered bad but have done them because they genuinely believed that God wanted them to do it and they believe their God is always right therefore their action was right. Can you think of any examples?

This leads us to think about absolute morality If something is wrong or right no matter what, this is called an absolute. For example, some people believe that it is always wrong to kill people. They may argue that people have a right to life.

And relative morality … Some people believe that moral questions depend on the circumstances, in other words they are relative to the situation. So in most circumstances it would be wrong to kill people, but in some circumstances it may be the right thing to do. For example if someone is going to die but they will do so in great pain and suffering it might be right to kill them quickly to minimise the suffering they experience (mercy killing).

William Lane Craig He states that the euthyphro dilemma is a false dilemma and argues that “God wills something because he is good. William Lane Craig (Christian Apologist) i.e. God is the definition of good, he is intrinsically good.

Learning check… Explain in your own words the background to the Euthyphro dilemma. 3KU Describe the Euthyphro dilemma. 3KU Explain how you would answer the Euthyphro dilemma. 4AE Explain the term ‘absolute morality’. 2KU Give three examples of things which you think are always wrong. 3KU 6. Explain the term ‘relative morality’. 2KU Explain how you decide what is right and wrong. 4AE

Quick recap The Euthyphro dilemma asks: Is something good because God says it is good or does God say it is good because it is good? The Euthyphro dilemma emerged after a conversation between a man called Euthyphro and Socrates about a definition of what is holy or pious. If something is wrong or right no matter what, it is called an absolute. If moral questions depend on the circumstances they are relative to the situation.