Anti-RealismA philosophy which claims statements are true because they

cohere with other statements that are accepted as true within a given form of life/society

CognitivistA philosophy which claims statements are true because they correspond or refer to a real object or concept. i.e. a real and

existing standard of beauty

Divine Command

A theory that moral statements are in fact expressions of emotion, either approving or disapproving of actions

Emotivism An action which is right because God commands it.

Non-CognitivistApproach to moral claims that relates them exclusively to an

objective basis of good and bad

Objective truthApproach to moral claims that relates them exclusively to the

emotions and preferences of people who use them

PrescriptivismSomething (whether an object or concept) exists and remains true

everywhere, independent of human thought and feelings

RealismSomething (whether an object or concept) is only true under

certain conditions, at certain times, or for certain people

Subjective truthTheory that moral statements recommend (or prescribe!) a

particular course of action

Good & God or Good God?Good & God or Good God?

Today’s Objectives

• To know what the divine command theory is

• To understand the complications associated with divine command

• To reflect on the impact on God of this

theory

Situations TaskSituations Task

• In groups, read through your situation. What would you do in that situation?

• You have 3 minutes to come up with a conclusion and explanation

• At the end you will have to read out your situation and then explain your course of action

How many of you acted...How many of you acted...

A guilty feeling gotten on a rhythm??? A guilty feeling gotten on a rhythm???

• No one was in the office• There was a DVD I wanted• I took it• No one knows it was me• No one has noticed that the DVD has gone• However... I feel guilty

• WHY???

What is right = What God wills

Any issues with that???Any issues with that???

• What God wills = What is Good/Right

• God wills do not steal• God wills honour your mother and father• God wills hit your little sister with a broom• God wills don’t walk on the cracks in the

pavement• God wills a fun test where you have to go out

and sacrifice your own son...

Have you got any solutions to that problem??

Have you got any solutions to that problem??

Solutions?Solutions?• Absurdity is apparent and God’s will is the

source of morality

Euthyphro DilemmaEuthyphro Dilemma

• Plato – Early Dialogues - http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html

• Socrates and Euthyphro• Euthyphro says ‘holy’ is ‘whatever all the gods

love’• Right/Good/Virtuous = Approved of by Gods• Socrates– Option A: Right because gods command it– Option B: They command it because it is right

• What are the implications??

Options...Options...

• God’s will = source of morality– Whatever he commands = Good– Could command horrific things– Should we worship such a God?

• God’s will = not the source of morality– God has to follow a moral law– Surely we can still be moral but ignore God...– Euthyphro chooses this one

GOOD/RIGHT/VIRTUOUSGOOD/RIGHT/VIRTUOUS

Criticism of Euthyphro conclusionCriticism of Euthyphro conclusion

• Next lesson we will be going over the conclusion and seeing whether there are any flaws in the argument.

• We will also be discussing the divine command as a moral theory in more detail and seeing whether it still can be a valid argument for morality

Criticism of Euthyphro conclusion and discussion of the Divine Command

Criticism of Euthyphro conclusion and discussion of the Divine Command

• Why is it not a surprise that many believers are not happy with this conclusion?

PlenaryPlenaryCHAIN OF LEARNING!!!• Each person is going to say a sentence before we can leave• The sentence has to explain something you have learnt today• It has to be original – no one else can have said it• It should follow on from what the person before said. (i.e. I

like cheese, fromage is the French for cheese rather than Canary Warf is in London)

Today’s Objectives• To know what the divine command theory is• To understand the complications associated

with divine command• To reflect on the impact on God of this theory