Analysis Of Divine Command Theory Philosophy Essay

Analysis Of Divine Command Theory philosophy EssayDivine command theory is an good view ground on theism or the belief that divinity fudge exists. Followers of the theory use up that all virtuous judgment is derived from an understanding of idols character or his assume commandments. In other words, what is in accordance with graven images command is incorrupt and what is distant to that command is immoral (Farnell, 2005). The holy books of each religion (e.g. The Bible, Koran, and Torah) contain perfections directions. Therefore, they cornerstone be used as guides to distinguish between morally tidy and bad feats. The idea that ethics and religion be connected is far-reaching, and it leads us to examine religions role in our society.AdvantagesAlthough presage command theory has been rejected as a working estimable theory, there are a few ways in which it does provide an advantage as an ethical framework. First, beau ideals commands set forth universal moral rules . The rules can be apply to anyone, at all times and places. The belief that deity is eternal and neer changes means that his commands are as relevant today as when they were head start recorded.Second, perfections commands dont depend on what others think are right or improper. His commands are completely objective. For example, one of divinity fudges commandments is not to commit murder (Exodus 2113). steady if your friends believe that murder is acceptable (for instance, capital punishment), they are still unlawful because their beliefs oppose Gods will. Under this theory, morality exists outside of homosexual backgrounding because God is the ultimate authority.Third, if you disobey God, you will be punished. If you follow his commands, youll be rewarded. God is both omnipotent and omnipresent. If you choose to disobey, your punishment is inescapable. If you obey, God will conjure you with eternal life and a place in heaven. Those who believe invite a strong incentive to follow his commands.Finally, traditional religions are centuries aged(prenominal) and fork out recorded many of Gods commands. Religious texts allow us to kip down and understand the character of God, and they make it easier to know how to act morally. For Christian believers, the countersignature of God is in The Bible and they are secure in the concrete, moral teachings written in its pages.CritiquesThere are several evidences why churchman command theory falls short as a working ethical viewpoint. One objection focuses on the sheer number of ground religions and their different interpretations of the nature of God (or their gods). How does a divine command theorizer know that their Gods commands are the right ones to follow? It is impossible to prove that the insights of Allah overrule the laws of Yahweh. Even within Christianity, a schism has existed between Catholic and Protestant believers since The Reformation in 1517. Under divine command theory repairly one re ligion can be correct and the followers of that God are the only ones leading moral lives (Austin, 2006). This leads into the next objection.Gods commands can be easily misconstrued. That is, how do we determine the correct interpretation of the sacred texts? When God presents that we should not commit murder, does that mean murder is always immoral, or should we assimilate into account the specific context in which God gave this command? During this exploit of interpretation, we are actually exercising our own sense of morality. We must rely on our own understanding of Gods goodness and act on moral laws we deem consistent with Gods commands (Adams, 1999). We cannot take ourselves completely out of the picture when determine Gods position on ethical issues.Perhaps the most convincing aim against divine command theory is that it leaves open the idea that immoral acts energy not be wrong. That means Gods commands are arbitrary in nature. Murray and Rea (2008) state that, the di vine command process that determines what is moral or immoral does not actually admit moral considerations. If God omitted the command forbidding murder, then it would no monthlong be an immoral action. On the other hand, if God is restricted from compulsory the murder of children or stealing from the poor, then the logic behind divine command theory falls apart. God is no longer the sole source for moral knowledge and some knowledge outside of God makes those acts immoral.Platos EuthyphroPlatos classic dialogue Euthyphro will always be brought up in interchanges about the relationship between God and ethics. The dialogue features a discussion of piety between Socrates and Euthyphro. Socrates is on trial for corrupting the youth of capital of Greece by leading them away from their belief in gods. Euthyphro is prosecuting his own get for manslaughter in the death of a servant. About midway through the dialogue, Socrates asks his renowned question Is the pious love by the gods b ecause it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? (Plato Church, 1987) This is the same as saying Does God command an action because it is morally right, or is it a morally right action because God commands it?If the latter is true, then God can either command or refuse to speak against immoral acts and that will make them moral. In the Bible, God commanded his most devout follower, Abraham, to sacrifice his favorite son Isaac (Genesis 221-24). Abraham border Isaac on a hilltop and was just about to commit filicide when an apotheosis of the Lord came down to stop him. There is no doubt that Abraham would hit murdered Isaac had God not intervened at the last second. Although there is a happy ending to this parable, the inferred message here is that God has the power to tump over morality at any time. If God is the ultimate authority, then vigor should stop us from honoring his will not even our ethical boundaries.If the former is true, then morality has a sour ce outside of God. Of break away God will command what is morally right every time, because God is all-knowing. In fact, he already knows what is right or wrong forwards he even commands it. That means Gods commands are in line with an sovereign moral standard. Gods perfect nature restricts him from making immoral acts moral. Thus, right and wrong are not based on Gods will alone. This places God in the same situation that we are in. We also base our behavior on an ethical standard that we discover rather than invent. We have just make God irrelevant when it comes to moral authority.Faith vs. reasonFaith in God seems diametrically opposed to reason and common sense. The main captivate of religion is the intense making love that believers bring to their faith. Christianity is a powerful jam in our society because it asks for the most suspension of disbelief in its followers. The allegiance involved in maintaining that the Son of God was born a someone man infused with the Hol y Spirit is enormous. On the other hand, if faith beastly directly in line with reason then it wouldnt inspire the passion it has throughout the ages.There are many who keep faith and reason as separate and distinct parts of their lives. St. Thomas Aquinas believed that reason alone is sufficient to understand between right and wrong (Clark Poortenga, 2003). He also believed that human reason was an expression of Gods will. If God did create us in his image, then our understanding of morality is an extension of that. God could have chosen to create us some other way, but ultimately, our human nature demands that we lead a good and moral life to be fulfilled. As an ethical construct, divine command theory fails under rigorous, philosophical critiques, but that doesnt mean ethical reasoning and faith cannot coexist. Those who believe in God can use reason to responsibly determine how best(p) to conform their behavior to his commands.