The Euthyphro Dilemma Introduction.

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Higher RMPS Lesson 3 The Euthyphro dilemma. Learning intentions After todays lesson you will be able to: explain the background to the Euthyphro dilemma.

Advertisements

Lesson 2 The divine command theory

Greek Gods and Goddesses Begin note for classical Greece.

First Five What did Thales believe all things were made of? What did Anixemenes think all things were made of? What do you call philosophers who think.

Time: 399 BCE. Place: The porch of the King Archon's Court in Athens. Socrates: Defendant against charges of corrupting the youth and failing to worship.

The Euthyphro dilemma.

Religion and Morality Many people believe that morality ultimately depends upon an appeal to the dictates of a higher being. Many people believe that morality.

1 The Euthyphro is an investigation into what? Piety/holiness. 2 Where is the Euthyphro set? Outside the king Archon’s (religious magistrate’s) court.

Guessing game I was happy last night. I guess you were happy because… I solve a riddle.

Socrates and Plato Euthyphro, Apology, and Phaedo Unit 2: Greece Honors 2101, Fall 2006 Bryan Benham.

Knowledge innatism Michael Lacewing

Greek Philosophy & History

Great Thinkers Think Alike! Socrates Plato and Aristotle Compiled by Amy.

Divine Might Makes Right? Divine Command Theory. As a Metaethical theory, DCT states that … ‘Good’ =df ‘approved of by God. ‘Right’ =df ‘commanded by.

Divine command theory the euthyphro argument. the divine command theory The Divine Command Theory (DCT): There are some objective moral truths. “X is.

Bell Ringer What are the Iliad and the Odyssey about?

If God created everything, he is responsible for everything? Today’s lesson will be successful if: You can evaluate the above statement You can begin to.

Divine Command Theory Suppose a believer told you that God had instructed them to give £10 to charity – would you be surprised? Why? Why not?

Key Questions Are there any things which are always wrong? Should decisions be based on the situation? Should religious people have high moral standards?

Socrates: Greek Philosopher Essential Skill: Examine information from more than one point of view.

Do now – Guess the news stories!. Thursday 5 th Sept 2013 L.O: - To analyse why some Christians use the Bible and the Church to make moral decisions and.

‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Socrates

A woman is raped but decides she doesn’t want an abortion because killing is wrong and killing is forbidden in her religion. A man thinks it is alright.

Coach Crews World History. Before Define: - Philosophy - Philosopher - Socratic method.

The Cosmological Argument (Causation or ‘first cause’ theory)

‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Socrates

Socrates and Plato The Origin of Philosophy Origin of Western Philosophy Religion and Mythology Greek City-States Athenian Democracy Thales (

Euthyphro Dilemma Revision.

Thought of the Day All people have beliefs. What do you believe helps people achieve happiness? Why? Some people value education. Do you? Why? What do.

The Sophists Sophists- a group of philosophers who traveled from polis to polis. Taught math, science, and history. Did not believe the gods influenced.

Classical Greek Culture

Euthyphro. The Setting Time: 399 BCE. Place: The porch of the King Archon's Court in Athens. Note: King Archon not the head of the state but one of the.

LO: I will justify my response to the view that Morality can exist without God. CHRISTMAS HOMEWORK: Revise for end of unit assessment on Kantian Ethics.

The Greek Mind pp Greek Philosophers Handout

Religion and morality. The Divine Command Theory: There are objective moral facts. Statements of the form “x is right/good/moral” mean “God approves of.

Objectives: SWBAT  Debate the role of religion in morality  Identify the strong and weak forms of Divine Command Theory  Critique DCT.

Is the study of morality easy? “Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of dancing with its sexual gestures and touching! It is an incitement to lust!”

Greek philosophers Chapter 5 section 2. Socrates Athenian sculptor, but true love was philosophy Athenian sculptor, but true love was philosophy Left.

ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS. Philosophers - “Lovers of Wisdom” Philosophers are people who question the world around them seeking answers to life’s questions.

Plato’s Euthyphro Dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro (“Mr. Straight-head”) Literature, not history Dialogue has three parts: Prologue: sets the scene.

Objectives: SWBAT  Debate the role of religion in morality  Identify the strong and weak forms of Divine Command Theory  Critique DCT.

‘ The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Socrates.

Plato’s Euthyphro PAR 101: Invitation to Philosophical Thinking Walter Thomas Schmid, Ph.D. Philosophy and Religion, UNCW.

The Culture of Classical Greece

Greek Philosophy and History

Religion and morality Many people see a close connection Many ethical terms have religious connotations or origins Religious institutions can often endorse.

ANCIENT GREECE. how is the Greek Empire still relevant today?

Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

AS Ethics: Plato Introduction. Plato(429–347 B.C.E.) Plato was about 31 when Socrates died and he lived to be 81. Plato’s writings are mainly written.

The Greek Mind Chapter Greek Thinkers 500 B.C. to 350 B.C was known as the Golden Age of Greece. Art, architecture, literature, and philosophy thrived.

Explain the Euthyphro dilemma and outline the flaws in the argument 6AE Source of morality.  God’s role in morality.  Human role in morality.  Proposed.

Morality in the Modern World

Absolutism and the Euthyphro dilemma LO: I will know what is meant by absolutism I will attempt to resolve the Euthyphro dilemma Hmk: Come up with some.

Journal: Reflect on the following question? Is Divine Command Morality Ethics necessary and/or sufficient for Christian Ethics?

Do Now  Name 3 influences from ancient Greece that are seen today.

The Socratic Way. Beginnings Philosophy Philosophy What is it? What is it? It’s hard to say It’s hard to say I’ll approach this obliquely I’ll approach.

Welcome to... A Game of X’s and O’s. Another Presentation © All rights Reserved

Chapter 8, Section 2 Greek Philosophy and History.

Journal: Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 and Genesis 18: Then respond to the following: "Some theists say that ethics cannot do without religion because.

Greek Philosophers How do the Greek Philosophers influence the way we think today?

Plato’s Euthyphro. Questions to answer 1. Socrates asks Euthyphro to define piety. What is Euthyphro’s first answer? How does Socrates criticize it? 2.

Classical Greece. The Challenge of Persia 1 st Persian War Persia was expanding at the same time as Greece Darius wanted to conquer Athens and the rest.

Relativism, Divine Command Theory, and Particularism A closer look at some prominent views of ethical theory.

What can you remember? Outline at least one problem with the definition of Omnipotence simply being “Can do anything”. Summarise the Paradox of the.

Introduction to Ethics

The Socratic Way.

Introduction to Ethics

Greek Philosophy & History

Presentation transcript:

The Euthyphro Dilemma Introduction

Euthyphro Dilemma Socrates and Euthyphro arguing morality in ancient Greece Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father because he believes it is morally right Socrates asks how he would know if it was right or not. Euthyphro believes that if the gods say something is right then it is, and vice-versa. N.B. In ancient Greece they believed in a pantheon of Gods with different characters and powers (e.g. Zeus, king of Gods / Apollo, god of light / Aphrodite, goddess of love / etc) Also, we rely on the written work of Plato (a student of Socrates to tell us what Socrates taught)

Socrates didn’t like this idea and wanted rational proof / argument to defend it. He thought there must be more to morality than simply consensus of agreement. So he asked: “Are actions right because the gods (or to us, God) says so or do the gods (God) approve them because they are right in themselves?” This presents a number of problems…

The Euthyphro Dilemma means… In Greek times, the gods could not agree on much, this meant that what was morally right was down to a ‘majority vote’ – this means right and wrong are arbitrary so it doesn’t make it very ‘moral’ If what is right = what God / the gods say is right then morality depends on whoever God / the gods are: if they are ‘corrupt’ in any way, then they could condone dubious morals (e.g. saying theft or rape are right)

If God / the gods say that something is right in itself, then it takes away power from God. God is no longer the decision-maker; there is something ‘above’ him/them. This is a problem for religious people. If God / the gods are removed from the process of deciding upon morality, then we still have the problem of where morals come from: If it is from within us, then it is just as arbitrary as the gods deciding on a whim as not everyone agrees with what is right If it is from ‘beyond’ us, then where / how? Even the existence of God doesn’t answer the question as the Euthyphro dilemma points out!

Effects of the Euthyphro Dilemma The question on the origin of morality is still one that bothers philosophers today – that’s what the rest of this unit will look at. The Euthyphro dilemma leaves us with the following possibilities for the ‘origin’ of morality – none of which are satisfactory: The gods / God decides (therefore arbitrary – especially if you believe in more than one God) The gods / God agree with the inherent rightness or wrongness of an action (therefore they are not ‘in charge’ of everything) Non-religious people = morality from within (therefore arbitrary again) If we don’t know the source of morality, we can’t argue if something is or is not truly good without proof!