1. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Morality and Religion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

2. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Outline
Introduction: To what extent is religion a basis for morality?
The Divine Command Theory
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion: Religious beliefs and Morality
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

3. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Outline
Introduction: To what extent is religion a basis for morality?
The Divine Command Theory
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion: Religion and Morality
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

4. Religion as a foundation of morality
Introduction
Religion as a foundation of morality
Our problem: Moral truths
1. Are there such things as moral truths?
2. How do we know them and what is their content?
One answer: Religion
1. Yes: God’s law
- As God’s creation, the world is in order – God’s law.
- Human beings and their acts are part of such order.
- Humans beings ought to follow the moral law in their actions.
2. We must find out God’s law!
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

5. Introduction: The atheist worldview
Russel, A free man’s worship
Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world, if anywhere, our ideals henceforward must find a home. That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins -- all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul's habitation henceforth be safely built.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

6. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Introduction
Morality and Religion
The problem:
- Not all religious people act morally – religion not sufficient for moral behavior
- Not all non-religious people act immorally – religion not necessary
 The relationships between morality and religion are more complex than expected
 Our question: to what extent can religion be a foundation for morality?
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

7. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Outline
Introduction
The Divine Command Theory
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion: Religion and Morality
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

8. The Divine Command Theory
The Divine Command Theory (DCT):
The Divine Command Theory is the view on morality that what is right is whatever God commands.
This gives answers to our questions:
1. Are there such things as moral truths?
Yes, God’s law
2. How do we know them and what is their content?
We know them through religion, and their content are whatever our religion says it is.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

9. The Problem with the DCT:
Socrates’ question
Socrates’ question about the definition of “what is pious”:
Euthyphro: what is pious is whatever is loved by the gods
Socrates: is it pious because it is loved by the gods or is it loved by the gods because it is pious?
Socrates’ answer: it is loved by the gods because it is pious – not the other way – and Euthyphro failed to define what it is to be pious.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

10. The Problem with the DCT: Understanding Socrates’ question
Socrates’ question about the definition of “what is a great hike”:
Euthyphro: what is a great hike is whatever is loved by the Montanans.
Socrates: is it a great hike because it is loved by the Montanans or is it loved by the Montanans because it is a great hike?
Socrates’ answer: it is loved by the Montanans because it is a great hike– not the other way – and Euthyphro failed to define what it is to be a great hike.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

11. The Problem with the DCT: Socrates’ question applied to the DCT
Socrates’ question about the definition of “what is right”:
Euthyphro: what is right is whatever is whatever God commands
Socrates: is it right because God commands it or does God command it because it is right?
Socrates’ answer: it is commanded by God because it is right – not the other way – and Euthyphro failed to define what it is to be right.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

12. The Problem with the DCT:
One last example
Socrates’ question about the definition of “what is good for your education”:
Euthyphro: what is good for your education is whatever is whatever your parents command
Socrates: is it good for your education because your parents command it or do your parents command it because it is good for your education ?
Socrates’ answer: it is commanded by your parents because it is good for your education – not the other way – and Euthyphro failed to define what it is to be good for your education .
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

13. The Divine Command Theory:
Two interpretations
Interpretation 1:
Something is right because God commands it
Interpretation 2:
God commands something because it is right
Interpretation 1:
Good for your education because your parents command it
Interpretation 2:
Commanded by your parents because good for your education
Mere Authority
Knowledgeable guide
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

14. The Divine Command Theory: Interpretation 1 – Pros and Cons
Something is right because God commands it
PROS:
- There are moral truths
- These truths are easy to find: Follow the Scriptures as an absolute authority
CONS:
- Moral truths are arbitrary
- How to understand the Scriptures when ambiguous or outdated?
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

15. The Divine Command Theory: Interpretation 2 – Pros and Cons
God commands something because it is right
PROS:
- There are moral truths
- These truths are not arbitrary
CONS:
Moral truths exist independently of religion / God
We need another foundation!
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

16. The Divine Command Theory
Conclusion
The Divine Command Theory:
The Divine Command Theory is the view on morality that what is right is whatever God commands.
Socrates’ question:
Is it right because God’s commands it or does God command it because it is right
Two interpretations:
1. Right because God commands it
Problem: Arbitrariness of moral truths
2. Commanded by God because it is right
Problem: need for another foundation
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

17. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Outline
Introduction
The Divine Command Theory
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion: Religion and Morality
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

18. The Natural Law and the Cosmos
The Natural Law Theory
The Natural Law and the Cosmos
The idea of the cosmos:
Cosmos: the world in rational order – natural law
Humans: gifted with reason to understand the law
Morality: understand and follow the natural law
The Natural Law Theory
The Natural Law Theory is the view that what is right is governed by the natural law, which reflects the rational order of the world.
Aquinas: Reason = “the imprint of divine light” on us
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

19. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
The Natural Law Theory
Morality and Us
Humans vs. Animals
- Only humans can follow the law voluntarily – will
- Only humans can understand the law – reason
Believers vs Non-believers
All humans can understand and follow the law, believers or not, because all humans possess reason and will
To what extend is religion a foundation of moral truths?
- The rational order is the ultimate foundation
- But Religion gives us the assurance that the world is in a rational order
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

20. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
The Natural Law Theory
Moral Truths
How can we understand the law?
Same as mathematics (Euclid)
Rational intuition + logical reasoning
What does the law provide us?
General guiding principles for our motives/intentions
NOT specific acts for particular circumstances
Ex: “good entrusted to another should be restored to their owner”
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

21. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion
The Natural Law Theory: what is right is governed by the natural law, which reflects the rational order of the world.
Common aspects between the NLT and the DCT
- There are moral truths
- We can know them
Difference between the NLT and the DCT:
- Use of reason necessary
- All humans
- Only guidelines – not particular cases
The NLT: what does religion give us? Rational order of the world
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

22. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Outline
Introduction: Is religion a necessary basis for morality?
The Divine Command Theory: 2 interpretations
The Natural Law Theory
Conclusion: Religion and Morality
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

23. Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Morality and Religion
Our problem: Moral truths
1. Are there such things as moral truths?
2. How do we know them and what is their content?
An answer: Religion But how?
1. Divine Command Theory:
- Socrates’ question: two interpretations
- Interpretation 1: moral truths arbitrary
- Interpretation 2: need for another foundation
2. Natural Law Theory
- Reason as the ultimate foundation of moral truths
- Religion as the guarantee of the rational order of the world
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana