Inter-relationships Religion and Morality

Relationships Is it true that morality depends on religion, even that it cannot be understood in the context of religion? Is it true that morality depends on religion, even that it cannot be understood in the context of religion? Ivan Karamoazov-”If God does not exist, everything is permissible.” (Moral nihilism) Ivan Karamoazov-”If God does not exist, everything is permissible.” (Moral nihilism)

Relationships Major ethical theories have been developed independently.- Autonomy Thesis Major ethical theories have been developed independently.- Autonomy Thesis Morality does not originate with God. Morality does not originate with God. Rightness and wrongness are not based simply on God’s will. Rightness and wrongness are not based simply on God’s will. Essentially, there are reasons for acting one way or the other which may be known independently of God’s will. Essentially, there are reasons for acting one way or the other which may be known independently of God’s will.

Relationships Something is required if and only if X. Something is required if and only if X. Conditional proposition: If P, then Q. Conditional proposition: If P, then Q. Sufficient Condition: A condition that logically entails another. Sufficient Condition: A condition that logically entails another. Necessary condition: A condition that holds every time some other condition does. Necessary condition: A condition that holds every time some other condition does.

Necessary and Sufficient If this is a white table, it is a table. If this is a white table, it is a table. Being a white table is sufficient for being a table. Being a white table is sufficient for being a table. Being a table is necessary for being a white table. Being a table is necessary for being a white table.

Divine Command Theory Divine Command Theory God’s commanding something is necessary and sufficient for its being right. God’s commanding something is necessary and sufficient for its being right. If God commands it, then it is right. If God commands it, then it is right. If it is right, then God commands it. If it is right, then God commands it. The same applies to forbidden actions. The same applies to forbidden actions.

The Divine Command Theory  Behavior is considered morally right if it is commanded by God and morally wrong if it is forbidden. o This seems to solve the objectivity problem in ethics. Ethics is not merely a matter of personal feeling or social custom. It is God’s will. o The theory also provides a powerful reason for people to bother with morality. Divine punishment is not a pleasant prospect; reward, however, is very appealing.

Serious Problems with DC Theory ? Socrates asked Euthyphro: Is conduct right because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is right? o It is right because God commands it.  This conception of morality is mysterious.  It makes God’s commands arbitrary.  It provides the wrong reasons for moral principles. o God commands it because it is right.  This leads to a different problem. We acknowledge a standard that is independent of God’s will. The rightness exists prior to God’s command and is the reason for the command.

God’s Goodness God’s Goodness Things are right and good because God says so. Things are right and good because God says so. God is good. God is good. Substitution: God says God is right and good. Substitution: God says God is right and good. This is a problem because God’s goodness is often treated as a reason to treat God as a moral authority. This is a problem because God’s goodness is often treated as a reason to treat God as a moral authority.

Leibniz So in saying that things are not good by any rule of goodness, but sheerly by the will of God, it seems to me that one destroys, without realizing it, all the love of God and all his glory. For why praise him for what he has done if he would be equally praiseworthy in doing exactly the contrary?

Divine Command Theory is not Natural Law Theory Divine Command Theory is not Natural Law Theory What is natural law theory? What is natural law theory?

Natural Law Theory God created nature and the laws of nature are in accord with God’s plan. God created nature and the laws of nature are in accord with God’s plan. Natural law is universal and the same for all human beings at all times. Natural law is universal and the same for all human beings at all times. These moral laws of nature can be discovered by human beings. These moral laws of nature can be discovered by human beings. Thus, these are guides to human moral action. Thus, these are guides to human moral action.

The Theory of Natural Law  On this view, the world has a rational order, with values and purposes built into its very nature. o Derived from the ancient Greeks who believed that everything in nature has a purpose (telos). o There is a neat hierarchy, with humans conveniently situated atop all other life forms on the Earth.

Problems Problems Counterexamples to nature is good- self-interest, disease. Counterexamples to nature is good- self-interest, disease. Confuses “is” and “ought”- what is the case and what ought to be the case- descriptive & prescriptive- cannibalism. Confuses “is” and “ought”- what is the case and what ought to be the case- descriptive & prescriptive- cannibalism. Conflicts with the notion of nature proposed by science- not moral, purposive, but cause and effect. Conflicts with the notion of nature proposed by science- not moral, purposive, but cause and effect.

The “Even If” Response The “Even If” Response Even if the Divine Command Theory of Natural Law Theory were true, we would need to have the same debates we currently do. Even if the Divine Command Theory of Natural Law Theory were true, we would need to have the same debates we currently do. Which God? Should we do X? Is that the sort of thing a good God would say to do? Which God? Should we do X? Is that the sort of thing a good God would say to do? How could we decide? How could we decide?

Confucian Virtue Ethics Shu and zhong-not doing to other what you do not want done to you and doing what is best for others. Shu= seeing someone else as being like yourself.= reciprocity. Shu and zhong-not doing to other what you do not want done to you and doing what is best for others. Shu= seeing someone else as being like yourself.= reciprocity. Xiao- familial love and respect- practice of kindness, honor, respect, and loyalty among all family members. Society= one large family. Xiao- familial love and respect- practice of kindness, honor, respect, and loyalty among all family members. Society= one large family.