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Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

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Morality in the Morality in the Modern World Modern World
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Page 1: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Morality in the Modern Morality in the Modern WorldWorld

Page 2: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Where does morality come from?

Page 3: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Euthyphro Euthyphro DilemmaDilemma

Page 4: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?
Page 5: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Euthyphro DilemmaEuthyphro Dilemma The Euthyphro argument gets its name The Euthyphro argument gets its name

from Plato’s from Plato’s EuthyphroEuthyphro dialogue; a dialogue; a dialogue between Euthyphro who is dialogue between Euthyphro who is prosecuting his father for killing his own prosecuting his father for killing his own slave and Socrates, who is being slave and Socrates, who is being prosecuted for ‘corrupting’ the youth.prosecuted for ‘corrupting’ the youth.

In general, the Euthyphro Dilemma In general, the Euthyphro Dilemma consists of asking whether the Good exists consists of asking whether the Good exists because God wills it, or whether God acts because God wills it, or whether God acts in conformity to the idea of the Good.in conformity to the idea of the Good.

In short, it consists of asking “where do In short, it consists of asking “where do moral standards come from ?”. moral standards come from ?”.

Page 6: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

The Euthyphro dilemma is introduced The Euthyphro dilemma is introduced with the question from Socrates to with the question from Socrates to Euthyphro:Euthyphro:

““Does God command the good Does God command the good because it is good,because it is good,

OROR

or is it good because it is or is it good because it is commanded by God?commanded by God? “ “

Page 7: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?
Page 8: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

First Horn of the DilemmaFirst Horn of the Dilemma Asserts that God commands the good Asserts that God commands the good

because it is good in itself. because it is good in itself. If God commands the good because it is If God commands the good because it is

good, then he bases his decision what to good, then he bases his decision what to command on what is already morally good.command on what is already morally good.

Moral goodness, then, must exist before God Moral goodness, then, must exist before God issues any commands, otherwise he wouldn’t issues any commands, otherwise he wouldn’t command anything.command anything.

If moral goodness exists before God issues If moral goodness exists before God issues any commands, though, then moral any commands, though, then moral goodness is independent of God’s goodness is independent of God’s commands;commands; God’s commands aren’t the source of morality, God’s commands aren’t the source of morality,

but merely a source of information about morality.but merely a source of information about morality. Morality itself is not based in divine commands. Morality itself is not based in divine commands.

Page 9: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Second Horn of DilemmaSecond Horn of Dilemma Asserts that the good is good because it is Asserts that the good is good because it is

commanded by God.commanded by God. On this view, nothing is good until God On this view, nothing is good until God

commands it.commands it. This, though, raises a problem too:This, though, raises a problem too:

if nothing is good until God commands it, then what if nothing is good until God commands it, then what God commands is completely morally arbitrary;God commands is completely morally arbitrary;

God has no moral reason for commanding as he God has no moral reason for commanding as he does; morally speaking, he could just as well have does; morally speaking, he could just as well have commanded anything else.commanded anything else.

This problem is exacerbated when we consider This problem is exacerbated when we consider that God, being omnipotent (all-powerful), that God, being omnipotent (all-powerful), could have commanded anything at all.could have commanded anything at all.

Page 10: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

He could, for example, have commanded He could, for example, have commanded polygamy, slavery, and the killing of the polygamy, slavery, and the killing of the over-50s.over-50s.

If divine command theory is true, then had If divine command theory is true, then had he done so then these things would be he done so then these things would be morally good. morally good.

That doesn’t seem right, though; even if That doesn’t seem right, though; even if God had commanded these things they God had commanded these things they would still be morally bad.would still be morally bad.

Divine command theory, then, must be Divine command theory, then, must be false.false.

Page 11: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Divine Command TheoryDivine Command Theory

D.C.T.D.C.T.

22ndnd Horn Horn

Page 12: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Doing God’s willDoing God’s will

Divine command theory holds that Divine command theory holds that morality is all about doing God’s will.morality is all about doing God’s will.

God, divine command theorists hold, God, divine command theorists hold, has issued certain commands to his has issued certain commands to his creatures. creatures.

We can find these commands in the We can find these commands in the Bible or other holy books, or by asking Bible or other holy books, or by asking religious authorities, or perhaps even religious authorities, or perhaps even just by consulting our moral intuition.just by consulting our moral intuition.

We ought to obey these commands; We ought to obey these commands; that’s all there is to ethics.that’s all there is to ethics.

Page 13: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Divine Command TheoristsDivine Command Theorists

There are several reasons for theists There are several reasons for theists to be divine command theorists.to be divine command theorists.

If God is the creator literally all things, If God is the creator literally all things, then he created morality.then he created morality.

If God rules over all Creation, then we If God rules over all Creation, then we ought to do what he tells us to do.ought to do what he tells us to do.

The consistent message of the Bible is The consistent message of the Bible is that we should obey God’s commands.that we should obey God’s commands.

Page 14: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Argument against DCTArgument against DCT

The most famous argument against The most famous argument against divine command theory is the divine command theory is the Euthyphro Dilemma.Euthyphro Dilemma.

However the divine command theorist However the divine command theorist tries to answer the questions from the tries to answer the questions from the two horns of dilemma, unacceptable two horns of dilemma, unacceptable consequences seem to arise consequences seem to arise

Page 15: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Absolute MoralsAbsolute Morals

Is the belief that there are moral principles Is the belief that there are moral principles which hold true for all people at all times which hold true for all people at all times in all situations.in all situations.

In religion moral absolutism is often found In religion moral absolutism is often found under the guise of DCT.under the guise of DCT.

It means that God has set down a set of It means that God has set down a set of moral values which hold true for all people moral values which hold true for all people at all times in all circumstances.at all times in all circumstances.

This means that the moral values cannot This means that the moral values cannot be changed or added to, they are be changed or added to, they are objective.objective.

Page 16: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Relative MoralsRelative Morals

Is the view that there are no objective, Is the view that there are no objective, absolute ethical truths.absolute ethical truths.

Moral facts only hold relative to a given Moral facts only hold relative to a given individual or society.individual or society.

According to this ethical theory, what is According to this ethical theory, what is morally good for one person or culture morally good for one person or culture might be morally bad for another, and vice might be morally bad for another, and vice versa: there are no moral absolutes.versa: there are no moral absolutes.

The individualistic form of moral The individualistic form of moral relativism, according to which morality relativism, according to which morality varies between individuals, is subjective varies between individuals, is subjective ethics.ethics.

Page 17: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Heteronomous MoralsHeteronomous Morals

Page 18: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Root meaning of ‘heteronomous’ Root meaning of ‘heteronomous’ comes from– rules followed by otherscomes from– rules followed by others

Follow moral rules given by others out Follow moral rules given by others out of obedience to an authority who has of obedience to an authority who has coercive powercoercive power

Heteronomous morality is conformity Heteronomous morality is conformity to external rules that are simply to external rules that are simply accepted and followed without accepted and followed without question.question.

Examples of heteronomous morality Examples of heteronomous morality derived from power and authority or derived from power and authority or other sources of guidance are parents, other sources of guidance are parents, teachers, community, religion etc.teachers, community, religion etc.

Page 19: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Morality is considered heteronomous if it Morality is considered heteronomous if it depends on religious beliefs or if it has depends on religious beliefs or if it has been developed with reference to a set of been developed with reference to a set of values provided by religion.values provided by religion.

Society influenced by religious views and Society influenced by religious views and attitudes. These have an unconscious attitudes. These have an unconscious effect, even on those who are not religious.effect, even on those who are not religious.

Contrasts with autonomy-Autonomous Contrasts with autonomy-Autonomous moral systems which depend on moral systems which depend on reasonableness and good-will of individuals reasonableness and good-will of individuals - but this cannot be guaranteed.- but this cannot be guaranteed.

Ultimate authority for Christian morality Ultimate authority for Christian morality (as for Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu) is (as for Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu) is God's will.God's will.

Page 20: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Autonomous MoralsAutonomous Morals

Root meaning of ‘autonomous’ Root meaning of ‘autonomous’ comes from- ‘follows moral rules of comes from- ‘follows moral rules of self’self’

Such rules are self constructed and Such rules are self constructed and self- regulating principles.self- regulating principles.

It means that moral values are It means that moral values are independent of religious belief.independent of religious belief.

Highlights reason as the main source Highlights reason as the main source of moralityof morality

Page 21: Morality in the Modern World. Where does morality come from?

Does not rely on guidance from any Does not rely on guidance from any other source.other source.

Contrasts with heteronomy.Contrasts with heteronomy. Describes reasons for the rejection of Describes reasons for the rejection of

religion as source of morality.religion as source of morality. Explains that both religious and non-Explains that both religious and non-

religious people can accept that religious people can accept that moral values are autonomous e.g. moral values are autonomous e.g. you make an autonomous choice you make an autonomous choice whether to follow the heteronomous whether to follow the heteronomous morals of a religion.morals of a religion.


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