ipl-logo

Divine Command Theory Essay

1541 Words7 Pages

The Divine Command Theory (DCT) explains which actions are moral based on whether or not God commands it. The theory is difficult to support due to its flaws, arbitration, and even due to the essence of God. While Divine Command Theorists may completely support this theory, I will argue why the theory is impractical and cannot dictate what is morally right or wrong. In understanding if this theory holds ground we must question what God commands. Instead of uncritically accepting a theory we must put it to question and eliminate any flaws. By using Euthyphro’s Dilemma as an argument against the authority of the Divine Command Theory we can begin to question whether or not it is an acceptable account for morality. Euthyphro’s dilemma questions …show more content…

Even despite his creation of the world if we are to agree and follow God’s guidance without question this theory shows us that we are actually instead only undermining God’s goodness. Another major issue with the Divine Command Theory is the non–moral commandments listed in the Bible. If we were to strictly abide by the theory we would have to follow every command God makes as if it were moral code. Certain commands God makes are still applicable in every day life, the 10 commandments and even others can easily be followed by a dedicated individual. However it is when non-moral commands come to play where the DCT begins to lose its meaning. As times change and practices differ, non-moral commandments no longer have an effect and are not even practiced. An example of this can be found in the book of Leviticus “neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee” (Leviticus 19:19 KJV). The commandment states we are not allowed to wear a mix of fabrics, a claim that holds no standing today. This claim seems to have no direct sin, is not harming or disrespecting anyone or even ourselves. There seems to be no reason to follow it and it can be ignored as an irrelevant command in the bible. It is ridiculous to follow a claim as irrelevant as not wearing two fabrics at

Show More
Related

  • Divine Command Theory In Antony's Good Minus God

    337 Words  | 2 Pages

    The D.I.T is the belief that god finds something pious because it is moral and good. It’s like going shopping

    Read More

  • Why Is Southern Hospitality Important In Today's Society

    710 Words  | 3 Pages

    In America’s society today there are many basic commandments that we must follow such as Southern hospitality. Young children use their manners when they are in the presence of their elders, men being gentlemen to women, don’t take another person’s life, uses common courtesy, listen to people that you look up to, and also the golden rule do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Why are the commandments so important in today’s society? Southern hospitality is helping people without asking for their kindness. For example being welcoming and having a pleasant spirit such as when people visit your home, helping the less fortunate at the homeless shelters.

    Read More

  • Socrates And Euthyphro Argument

    1310 Words  | 6 Pages

    For the individuals who are searching for a tasteful meaning of devotion, the discourse is a failure, for no conclusion has been come to concerning the exact idea of that goodness. It has now and again been kept up that the genuine motivation behind logic isn't to answer addresses yet rather scrutinize the appropriate responses that have been given. Anyways, this is precisely what Socrates has been doing in this back and forth. Euthyphro has displayed a few speedy and prepared responses to the inquiry "What is devotion?" however upon magnification, each of these questions has appeared to be unsuitable.

    Read More

  • How Did Society Learn From The Witch Trials

    481 Words  | 2 Pages

    Also when something went wrong, they just blamed it on the devil or witchery. Then to prove that a person is siding with the devil a person had to recite the commandments. This is another reason why the court system was bad or corrupt is that no one could actually remember all of them off their head. Also, people don’t always remember to practice memorizing those commandments. If someone didn’t remember all of them then they would get charged with siding with the

    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

  • Compare And Contrast Mesopotamians And Israelites

    142 Words  | 1 Pages

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

    Read More

  • Barry Addington: Divine Law

    285 Words  | 2 Pages

    Barry Addington, at the beginning quotes Zeroseven: -------------------- "Just give your practical example and we can explore it." --------------------- We should be concerned with law, especially divine law. In Judaeo-Christian terms, are the Ten Commandments, which KF rightly draws on, subjective or objective?

    Read More

  • Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Essay

    549 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God”, Johnathan Edwards uses fear to create images that help his audience experience the consequences of sinful behavior. He uses imagery and figurative language to persuade his readers. He wants us to get a mental picture of Hell in your head and he wants us to fear the wrath of God. One such image was when Edward wrote, “When men are on god’s hands and they could fall to Hell, natural men are held in the hands of God, over the pit of Hell.” God could let us fall into the eternity of burning flames anytime He wants to.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Philippa Foot On Abortion And The Doctrine Of Double Effect

    196 Words  | 1 Pages

    In every day life, we face many situations that require a moral decision. We have to decide what is right and what is wrong? Not always is this an easy task thus, it seems important to analyze how we make our moral decisions. I will start with an analysis of how we make decisions in general

    Read More

  • Euthyphro's Dilemma Vs Divine Command Theory

    123 Words  | 1 Pages

    Euthyphro’s Dilemma is when Socrates asks Euthyphro, “Does God love goodness because it is good, or is it good because God loves it?” Euthyphro’s Dilemma is that God determines what is good and evil, right and wrong. This dilemma challenges the Divine Command theory because according to Euthyphro’s Dilemma we would be obligated to do something wrong because God commanded it. This conflicts with the Divine Command theory because it would imply that cruelty could be morally right if God told us to do so. The idea that cruelty can be morally right goes up against the belief in the Divine Command Theory because it proposes that an action's status that is morally good is equivalent to whether it is commanded by God

    Read More

  • Second Commandment Ambiguity

    934 Words  | 4 Pages

    Interpretations of the Second Commandment: Ambiguity and Clarity Despite the tumultuous changes that have occurred over the last five thousand years one thing remains constant: Human hypocrisy. Early Jewish and Early Christian art is a prime example of human hypocrisy in action and both exist as a result of a necessary interpretation of the second commandment to help people understand the Jewish and Christian religion. While the Jewish people adopted a more abstract form of art, Early Christian art is distinctly different as it creates real and almost idol like images due to the influence of the Roman Empire. Jewish artists made works that were more humble and abstract than other pieces found in that time period in order to follow the second

    Read More

  • Morality In The Euthyphro, By Plato

    951 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pojman asserts that this question highlights the question whether or not morality and religion are intertwined. Moreover, Socrates’ comments and critiques of Euthyphro’s claims provide readers a powerful model for what true dialectic thus promoting the development of a strong intellectual spine and the true core of

    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

  • The Ten Commandments: Remember The Sabbath Day

    466 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the Ten Commandments were created, the original intention was that they were to be followed always, indisputably. Over time, society has altered those laws in order to suit their own agenda. The two hardest commandments to follow are; "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" and "Honor your father and your mother." In the twenty -first century, it is evident that religious devotion plays less of a significant role in everyday life in comparison to the early days of Judaism and Christianity. As the world becomes increasingly secular, people are no longer spending their time in their designated holy place.

    Read More

  • Thesis Statement: Origin Of Morality: Religion And Philosophy

    1634 Words  | 7 Pages

    Thesis Statement: Origin of Morality Outline A.Universal Ethics 1.Karl Barth, The Command of God 2.Thomas Aquinas, The Natural Law 3.Thomas Hobbes, Natural Law and Natural Right 4.Immanuel Kant, The Categorical Imperative B.Morality and Practical Reason 1.Practical Reason a.Practical Reason and Practical Reasons C.Evolution of Morality 1.What makes Moral Creatures Moral 2.Explaining the Nature of Moral Judgments F. Answering Questions 1. What is the origin of Morality: Religion or Philosophy? 2. What does religion say about morality?

    Read More

More about Divine Command Theory Essay

Open Document