1. Religious Moral Theories Introduction to Philosophy Jason M. Chang

2. Lecture Outline 1. Background 2. Divine command theory 3. Euthyphro dilemma 4. Natural law theory

3. Background About divine command theory and natural law theory Religious Non-consequentialist Objective basis for morality

4. Divine Command Theory (DCT)

5. Divine command theory (DCT) History and origins Basics of DCT o Definition of a morally right act Morally right act = act commanded by God Morally wrong act = act God commands against St. Augustine (354-430 AD)

6. Divine command theory (DCT) Stealing is wrong because God commands against it Homosexuality is wrong because God commands against it (??)

7. Divine command theory (DCT) Knowing God’s commands o Scripture o E.g., 10 commandments o Divine revelation o E.g., Pope, Prophet

8. The Euthyphro dilemma

9. Euthyphro dilemma “The Euthyphro” Plato (427-347 BC) What the objection does Points out an embarrassing dilemma for DCT

10. Euthyphro dilemma DCT’s definition Morally right act = act commanded by God (A) An act is morally right because God commands it (B) God commands the act because it is morally right

11. (A) An act is morally right because God commands it (B) God commands the act because it is morally right What makes an act morally right? Status of the act before God commanded it? God commanding the act The act was neither right nor wrong The act was still right even before God commanded it Some moral standard independent of God (e.g., the act causes happiness, respects human rights) ** Each interpretation poses problems for the DCT**

12. Euthyphro dilemma The problem with (A) God’s commands make murder wrong Before God commanded against it, there was nothing (no reason or standard) that made murder wrong If there was nothing (no reason or standard) for God to use, His command against murder was based on nothing God’s command against murder (and MORALITY itself) is arbitrary and wily-nily

13. Euthyphro dilemma The problem with (B) Some moral standard independent of God makes murder wrong God was restricted by this independent moral standard when issuing His commands Being restricted by the moral standard, God could not have commanded murder or torture to be morally right There exists a standard above God. God is not omnipotent

14. Euthyphro dilemma (A) An act is morally right because God commands it (B) God commands the act because it is morally right Moral right and wrong are arbitrary and wily-nily God is not omnipotent The dilemma for DCT

15. Are there other religious moral theories available?

16. Natural Law Theory (NLT)

17. Natural law theory (NLT) Morality of Catholic Church St. Thomas Aquinas Definition of a morally right act Morally right act = act that follows the dictates of nature St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD)

18. Natural law theory (NLT) Major idea #1: All things in nature direct themselves toward a telos Telos (τέλος) o God-given o Part of the natural order

19. Natural law theory (NLT) Major idea #2: A thing’s telos provides a standard for judging Flourishing (“good”) vs. deficient (“bad”) Objective standard

22. What does human flourishing consist of?

23. Natural law theory (NLT) Major idea #3: Human flourishing consists of: Self-preservation (of life and health) Reproducing and raising children Seeking knowledge (including of God) Cultivating social relationships

24. Natural law theory (NLT) Morally wrong acts are those that deviate from these God- given natural human aims Suicide Abortion Birth control Homosexuality Masturbation Murder Lying Self-preservation (of life and health) Reproducing and raising children Seeking knowledge (including of God) Cultivating social relationships

25. Natural law theory (NLT) Major idea #4: Humans can understand God’s natural law and live accordingly Similarities to other living things Differences with other living things