Religious Ethics

Religious Ethics

1. Divine Command Theory

   • Response to the Euthyphro Dilemma: "Is something good because God commands it or does God command what is good?"
   • Problems
     • DCT
       • Leibniz - God's commands become arbitrary.
       • God could command unethical acts, which would have to be considered 'good'
       • Are we being good for the right reasons?
     • God commands only what is good
       • Rachels - unacceptable because it takes away personal autonomy to make decisions.
       • Objective morality outside of God
   • Two options: 1. Certain actions are good because God commands them - DCT 2. God commands things because they are right or wrong of themselves

2. Situation Ethics

   • 4 working principles
     • Pragmatism
     • Positivism
     • Personalism
     • Relativism
   • 6 fundamental principles
     • Love is the only absolute
     • Love is self-giving love
     • Justice will follow from love
     • No preferential treatment
     • Love is a final end and not a means
     • The loving thing to do will depend on the situation