Discussion Questions 1. Do you know the Ten Commandments? Can you follow all of them? Why or why not? 1. Do you know the Ten Commandments? Can you follow all of them? Why or why not? 2. What is the key message in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount? 2. What is the key message in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount? 3. What is Euthyphro about? 3. What is Euthyphro about? 4. What difference does it make whether the pious is loved by the gods because it is pious, or pious because it is loved? 4. What difference does it make whether the pious is loved by the gods because it is pious, or pious because it is loved?

The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments Actually, there are 613 commandments.613 commandments

What were Jesus’ ethics? The Greatest and Second Greatest Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) The inner transformation of the law of love Examples Murder Adultery Lex Talionis Love your neighbor

Euthyphro: What is Piety? Or, how can an ethical/religious concept be defined? Or, how can an ethical/religious concept be defined? Def.#1: “Piety is doing as I am doing, that is to say, prosecuting any one who is guilty of murder, sacrilege, or of similar crime …” (5e) Def.#1: “Piety is doing as I am doing, that is to say, prosecuting any one who is guilty of murder, sacrilege, or of similar crime …” (5e) Def.#2: “Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them. ” (7a) Def.#2: “Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them. ” (7a) Def.#3: “But I will amend the definition so far as to say that what all the gods hate is impious, and what they love pious or holy” (9d) Def.#3: “But I will amend the definition so far as to say that what all the gods hate is impious, and what they love pious or holy” (9d)

The Euthyphro Problem ” The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods.” (10a) ” The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods.” (10a) Is the good commanded by God because it is good, or is it good because it is commanded by God? Is the good commanded by God because it is good, or is it good because it is commanded by God? What’s the difference? What’s the difference? ” For one is of a kind to be loved cause it is loved, and the other is loved because it is of a kind to be loved.” (11a) ” For one is of a kind to be loved cause it is loved, and the other is loved because it is of a kind to be loved.” (11a) The Euthyphro problem raises the question of the source of value. The Euthyphro problem raises the question of the source of value.

Divine Command Theory If something is holy or good because of God’s approval or love or command, then If something is holy or good because of God’s approval or love or command, then 1. divinity is omnipotent and creates moral values (implication that without divinity no right and wrong) 1. divinity is omnipotent and creates moral values (implication that without divinity no right and wrong) 2. moral values are arbitrary, i.e., they depend on God’s will and preferences (Which God? How can we know God’s will?) 2. moral values are arbitrary, i.e., they depend on God’s will and preferences (Which God? How can we know God’s will?) 3. Rachels also states that this “conception of morality is mysterious” (51), and 3. Rachels also states that this “conception of morality is mysterious” (51), and 4. that it “provides the wrong reasons for moral principles” (52). 4. that it “provides the wrong reasons for moral principles” (52).

What is God’s view… … of abortion? … of abortion? … of homosexuality? … of homosexuality? Consider Genesis 19: 1-11 Consider Genesis 19: 1-11Genesis 19: 1-11Genesis 19: 1-11 What is the sin of Sodom? What is the sin of Sodom? Ethics requires interpretation, reasoning, and thinking for oneself (which is, after all, a biblical ideal). Ethics requires interpretation, reasoning, and thinking for oneself (which is, after all, a biblical ideal). Remember Abraham! Remember Abraham!Abraham

Natural Law Theory If God loves or commands something because it is pious or good, then If God loves or commands something because it is pious or good, then 1. values of right and wrong are absolute and lie outside of God’s command 1. values of right and wrong are absolute and lie outside of God’s command 2. values determined by Natural Law of Reason that even God must conform to (implication is God’s not omnipotent and morality is accessible to human reason) 2. values determined by Natural Law of Reason that even God must conform to (implication is God’s not omnipotent and morality is accessible to human reason)

Problems with The Natural Law Theory 1. What is “natural” is not always good (e.g., disease, hurricanes, etc.). 1. What is “natural” is not always good (e.g., disease, hurricanes, etc.). 2. An “is” cannot be derived from an “ought.” This is Hume’s famous view. 2. An “is” cannot be derived from an “ought.” This is Hume’s famous view. 3. The modern scientific view rejects Aristotelian teleology (i.e., the view that everything in nature has a purpose). 3. The modern scientific view rejects Aristotelian teleology (i.e., the view that everything in nature has a purpose).

What is the relationship between fear and reverence and how does it apply to defining piety? Reverence is a part of fear, but fear is the more extended concept (just as number is more extended than odd), so… Reverence is a part of fear, but fear is the more extended concept (just as number is more extended than odd), so… Def.#4: “Piety or holiness, Socrates, appears to me to be that part of justice which attends to the gods, as there is the other part of justice which attends to men.” (13a) Def.#4: “Piety or holiness, Socrates, appears to me to be that part of justice which attends to the gods, as there is the other part of justice which attends to men.” (13a)Socrates

But what does it mean to attend to the gods (as horsemen attend to horses, and huntsmen attend to dogs)? But what does it mean to attend to the gods (as horsemen attend to horses, and huntsmen attend to dogs)? It means to benefit them or make them better, but surely we can’t do this to the gods. It means to benefit them or make them better, but surely we can’t do this to the gods. Euthyphro then says it’s a kind of service, but Socrates asks what the product of this service is…what do the gods produce? Euthyphro then says it’s a kind of service, but Socrates asks what the product of this service is…what do the gods produce?

Def.#5: piety is a science of praying and sacrificing” (14c), “an art which gods and men have of doing business with one another” (14e) Def.#5: piety is a science of praying and sacrificing” (14c), “an art which gods and men have of doing business with one another” (14e) But what’s the point of prayer (asking from the gods), since they must already know what we want? But what’s the point of prayer (asking from the gods), since they must already know what we want?

And what the point of sacrificing (giving to the gods), since they already have everything they need? And what the point of sacrificing (giving to the gods), since they already have everything they need? Euthyphro admits that the gods don’t need anything, but he says that sacrifices please the gods. Euthyphro admits that the gods don’t need anything, but he says that sacrifices please the gods. Wait a minute…! Wait a minute…!

What are we to conclude from this dialogue? Piety (and perhaps any other ethical or religious concept) cannot be defined; it remains an open question. Piety (and perhaps any other ethical or religious concept) cannot be defined; it remains an open question. Perhaps we can conclude that how we should behave towards the gods is not worth speculating about at all. Perhaps we can conclude that how we should behave towards the gods is not worth speculating about at all. The pious (good or right) life cannot be known by reason and communicated. The pious (good or right) life cannot be known by reason and communicated. Can it be “known” another way? Can it be “known” another way? Are we to conclude that religious duty is a matter of subjective inwardness? Are we to conclude that religious duty is a matter of subjective inwardness?

A Method for Defining a Concept A definition is not an example. A definition is not an example. A definition involves the substance/essence/eidos of a thing, not an affection or attribute. A definition involves the substance/essence/eidos of a thing, not an affection or attribute. A definition should be both general and specific (genus species). A definition should be both general and specific (genus species).

“God and Moral Autonomy” by James Rachels What does it mean to worship God? Beliefs Conduct Self-image Distinction between the “ceremonial form” and “the point of the ritual” What is the point? “commitment to the role of God’s child”… “that dominates one’s whole way of life” (p. 25)

The Moral Autonomy Argument (p. 28) 1. If any being is God, he must be a fitting object of worship. 1. If any being is God, he must be a fitting object of worship. 2. No being could possibly be a fitting object of worship, since worship requires the abandonment of one’s role as an autonomous moral agent. 2. No being could possibly be a fitting object of worship, since worship requires the abandonment of one’s role as an autonomous moral agent. 3. Therefore, there cannot be any being who is God. 3. Therefore, there cannot be any being who is God.

The general point seems to be that obedience to God takes us “beyond morality”; we “opt out of moral thinking altogether” and abandon our role as moral agents. The general point seems to be that obedience to God takes us “beyond morality”; we “opt out of moral thinking altogether” and abandon our role as moral agents. Is this argument viable? Is this argument viable? Why worship God? Why worship God?