ipl-logo

Advantages Of Divine Command Theory

1079 Words5 Pages

My purpose in this essay is to explain and analyze the Divine Command Theory. Divine Command Theory states that morality is ultimately based on the commands of God. I disagree with this theory because how do we know what concepts of God are true and what other concepts are false? There are so many religions making their own claims and interpretations that they believe are true. Therefore, how do we know then what God approves or disapproves of? Divine command theory is the idea that certain actions are morally good or morally bad because they are what God wills for us. God’s demands determine what is right or wrong. What he tells us to do is right, and what he tells us not to do is wrong. This theory states that the only thing that makes an …show more content…

Divine command theory has many weaknesses. The weaknesses of this theory are best shown by Plato’s dialogue, Euthyphro, which poses a question. Are actions morally good because they are approved by God or the gods, or whether God or the gods approve of action because they are morally good? If someone believes that morally good acts are good because they are willed by God, then God could command us to do anything, and it would be right for us to do it. Whatever God commands becomes the principle of moral rightness. Therefore, if God told one person to rape someone else, Divine Command Theory implies that the rape would be okay because doing what God commands is doing the right thing. On the contrary, if God forbids rape because it is morally wrong, then it is wrong prior to God ordering it to be wrong. This would imply that actions are morally good or morally bad independent of God’s will. Therefore, we …show more content…

I have always just accepted that whatever God commands is the morally right action and have never really thought about the arguments against it. After realizing that there are so many arguments against it, this has led me to disagree with the Divine Command Theory. Because there are a vast variety of religions in this world, there are multiple different God or gods that people believe in. Just because I have a set religion and God that I believe in does not mean that someone else’s view is wrong. Also, how can we know for sure what God’s commands are? There are so many ways to understand scripture, and many of these texts have been translated into different languages and have been edited that it could have been revised from the real version. People claim to hear from God all the time, but we have no way to know for sure if they are telling the truth and to validate it. This theory has many weaknesses to it because we do not know what religion is the best or what God approves of. Even though I do not believe in the Divine Command Theory, I still believe in God, and that he is the creator of all things. I think that God’s goodness is rooted in nature, and it is in his nature to do good. However, I do not think this alone can prove that the Divine Command Theory is true. The Divine Command Theory implies that we know what God approves or disapproves of, but really no one knows for sure. So, we must rely on our own understanding

Show More
Related

Apush Chapter 1 Summary

1589 Words | 7 Pages

Part I Identifications (In a couple of sentences describe 15 of the following people, places, or events) 1. Luanda- This is a Portuguese factory that was located south of Kongo. The factory was also founded and established around the 1520s. This became the source for Portuguese colony of Angola.

Read More

If Any Morally Justified Mr. Meiks Choice To Kill The Thurman Sheriff

1206 Words | 5 Pages

Mr. Meiks even told his son that if the latter told others about the mission someone would die. Since there is not a feasible way to prove or disprove whether it was actually God’s angel telling Mr. Meiks God’s command, his choice to kill the Thurman sheriff is morally justified under strict interpretation of the divine command theory. However, there is some counter-argument in the fact that the sheriff’s name was not on a list. That is why Mr. Meiks was so upset and considered it a morally impermissible

Read More

Summary Of C. S Lewis 'The Abolition Of Man'

472 Words | 2 Pages

Outside the Tao, man must either lie about their indoctrination or dismiss the idea of a right and wrong, thusly allowing the child to come up with his own standards. Men outside of the Tao claim no belief to right and wrong, however, when rearing children or teaching class, they inevitably take a side on what behavior is correct in the situation and what is incorrect. For example, if one were to murder another in the presence of one of the before mentioned men, the said man would have to either place his own beliefs above all others, and therefore impose himself on the young person, or he would have to allow the murder to slide. Many believe that law creates a moral doctrine by which man can follow instead of the Tao, but unfortunately, that is not the case. The only thing binding us to the law is fear of punishment or instinct, neither of which place a belief of right and wrong on a subject.

Read More

Compare And Contrast Mesopotamians And Israelites

142 Words | 1 Pages

Although, the Israelites laws were established by the Commandments. Also,

Read More

Socrates And Euthyphro's Argument Analysis

893 Words | 4 Pages

This is so because it becomes difficult to know whether moral goodness is independent of the will of God or if it is as a result of His will. The Euthyphro dilemma offers two intensely differing sides. On one side of the argument, theorists are of the opinion that morality is whatever God wills. This position then brings into question the goodness of God’s will if His command vindicates what is wrong. Arguing that goodness is the determined by God shows that what is rights is so because God wills it to be right.

Read More

Morality In The Euthyphro, By Plato

951 Words | 4 Pages

For thousands of people, what is holy and what is moral comes from religious texts that act as a guide for individuals for how they ought to live their lives. This idea of holiness and morality for many is deeply rooted in the understanding that it originates with God; it is a necessary condition for it to be binding. However, what if what is holy and moral didn’t originate from God’s goodness, rather it comes from other mediums and is itself good thus being approved by God? This idea of existence and thought is a question that can be outlined in Plato’s, The Euthyphro.

Read More

Thesis Statement: Origin Of Morality: Religion And Philosophy

1634 Words | 7 Pages

Believers of God think that doing good deeds is being moral and thus these actions will save them from their sins. They believe that following God’s will, that is the 10 commandments and in the new commandments stated in the New Testament is the written and visible basis for these actions found in the Holy Bible. . Others believe that being moral is not just following the 10 commandments. Many instances already happened where people are already confused about what is good and what is not. Instances like doing an unethical action in order to save others or give justice; this example is best shown in the movie Robin Hood.

Read More

Pros And Cons Of The Golden Rule

728 Words | 3 Pages

There are different internal compasses that people utilize to point them towards the path of morality. The most common that probably still remains is The Golden Rule also referred to as the ethic of reciprocity. The Golden Rule stands for: “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. Some consider the Golden Rule to be the most universal of moral principles. Yet it does not always send a positive message.

Read More

Essay On Divine Command Theory

1218 Words | 5 Pages

The last theory is Aristotle’s virtue ethics which states that we should move from the concern towards good action and to focus on the concern with good character. This paper argues that Aristotle’s virtue ethics is better than the other ethical theories. The divine command theory says that what is morally right and what is morally wrong is determined by God and God alone. People who follow the divine command theory believe that God is the creator of all things, therefore, he must also be the creator of morally right and wrong acts.

Read More

Just And Unjust Analysis

609 Words | 3 Pages

Is out of harmony with the moral law.” (356). This illustrates for the clergymen where each type of law stands in a moral position. Each type of law affects a person’s personality in a negative or positive way. The just laws are typically laws voted for by the people, s

Read More

The Argument For The Problem Of Evil

929 Words | 4 Pages

A lot of arguments have been known to prove or disprove the existence of God, and the Problem of Evil is one of them. The Problem of Evil argues that it is impossible to have God and evil existing in the same world. Due to ideal characteristics of God, evil should not have a chance to exist and make human suffer. In this essay, I will examine the argument for the Problem of Evil, a possible theodicy against the argument, and reply to the theodicy. First of all, to be clear, the Problem of Evil is an argument that shows that God cannot be either all- powerful, all-knowing, and/or all good.

Read More

Essay On Unjust Law

1666 Words | 7 Pages

Men make laws to instill order in a society and prevent chaos in any shape or form. Naturally, laws will always be somewhat unjust because it is impossible to consistently construct laws that directly and equally benefit all members of a society. There will always be a majority that makes the laws and a minority that has to obey the laws. Although laws are usually the standard of morality by which we live by, they must be disobeyed in certain situations. These situations are, but not limited to, an undemocratic formation of aforementioned laws, laws that are inherently unjust according to human law which can be synonymous with God’s law.

Read More

Salvation In The Old Testament

1660 Words | 7 Pages

The regulations God provided in the Ten Commandments represented the covenant God made with the Israelites in relation to Salvation Grace. God presented the route his people would follow to attain Salvation through this commandments. Through the Covenants God made with Moses during the era, He provided the Ten Commandments to Israelites. Moses performed various sacrifices that would cleanse the people of Israel from their sins. However, observance of the law was not the way to salvation in the Old Testament.

Read More

Ethical Theories Essay

886 Words | 4 Pages

If God says you should do something you should do it. It is Meta ethical theory because it focuses on what morality itself is and it is concerned with why things are right and wrong. According to this theory good actions are those that God Commands and the action is morally good because it is ordered according to God’s law and individual is considered to be good if he/she use his/her will in the way that it has been ordered by God. For example Stealing is forbidden in all

Read More

Natural Law Vs Man Made Law Essay

789 Words | 4 Pages

Human is born with the natural ability of reasoning whether or not it is a gracious gift from God as claimed. According to natural law, human is capable of deciding whether an action is morally right or wrong. We do not create what is evil and good, rather, we discover what is right or wrong. Besides, humans are morally obliged to use their reasoning capability to discern what the laws are and subsequently acting in conformity with them. Therefore, there is no reason why divine law must be superior than man-made law when human is just as effective and arguably, even more effective.

Read More

More about Advantages Of Divine Command Theory

Related Topics

Open Document