The Divine Command Theory ( Dct ) - 1448 Words

A shift in philosophy from a relativist point of view to a moral perspective brought about several new revolutionary ideas. One particular theory that is hotly debated is the divine command theory (DCT). This controversial idea essentially says that God is the boss. It proposes that God decides what is moral and good, and therefore how we should be acting. It is a relationship between two claims, one of which God commands, and as a result the other is what is right. Many people and philosophers, such as the greatly influential 18th century thinker Emmanuel Kant, disapprove of it because it is relatable only to highly specific groups. The Divine Command Theory can be a useful guidance for those who are religious, however, I believe that this spiritual theory is not a wise guidance to follow. The simple divine command theory is centered around the belief in God. If you do not believe in God, then this theory cannot apply to you. It claims that morality is completely dependent on God. U nder the DCT, the morally right action is the one God commands or requires (IEP). For those who are religious, this philosophy is a very easy way to live because it is extraordinarily simple. It doesn’t force any sort of mental activity or personal beliefs; you purely live according to what God says is right. It calls into question the very study of ethics. Those who are religious are dedicated to this theory because they believe that religion ought to have some bearing on our lives and takeShow MoreRelatedMagistrates of Morality: How the Euthyphro Dilemma Cripples Divine Command Theory1654 Words   |  7 Pagesorder to live as a good, moral being. When a deity (or a group of deities) commands followers to abide by specific moral standards though a vehicle such as prophets, religious texts or otherwise, this is called Divine Command Theory (DCT). Those who accept this theory believe that moral action coincides with what has been ordered by the deities, and immoral action w ould occur when one deviates from these orders. Despite this theory remaining relevant into the twenty-first century, it has still yet toRead MorePhilosophy Is Completely Different From Psychology956 Words   |  4 Pagesimprove his/her thinking. Within philosophy, there are many ethical theories. Such theories include: the Divine Command Theory, Hedonism, Desire Theory, Ethical Relativism, and much more. In this term paper, I will discuss which theory I believe is the strongest and which theory I believe is the weakest. Regardless, there is no perfect theory. Each theory is without flaws. I believe act-utilitarianism is the strongest ethical theory presented in class. Act-utilitarianism is when, according to RussRead MoreI Believe Act Utilitarianism Is The Strongest Ethical Theory958 Words   |  4 Pagesimprove his/her thinking. Within philosophy, there are many ethical theories. Such theories include: the Divine Command Theory, Hedonism, Desire Theory, Ethical Relativism, and much more. In this term paper, I will discuss which theory I believe is the strongest and which theory I believe is the weakest. Regardless, there is no perfect theory. Each theory has their own flaws. I believe act-utilitarianism is the strongest ethical theory presented in class. According to Russ Shafer-Landau, act-utilitarianismRead MoreEthical Values And Moral Values1192 Words   |  5 Pagesthat I have based my ethical decisions on my emotion and the way I feel which is only one form of ethics. This class will go over various theories to approach the choices you make, that I never realized. 2. Why do good? To answer this question one might say, because god commanded it. This philosophy is known as the DCT. This is a highly controversial theory, which, Socrates poses two questions to confirm its falsehood. This then becomes known as the Euthyphro Dilemma. The two questions SocratesRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Divine Command Theory1488 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiences. I do not subscribe to the divine command theory (DCT) of ethics, as I believe you can have ethics without God. The DCT proposes that what is morally right is what God has commanded (for example, love thy neighbor), and what is forbidden by God is morally wrong (i.e. murder), yet there are many who agree that murder is wrong without reading the bible to recognize this. As such, I argue that the churches moral teachings are of value only to Catholics. The DCT establishes a relationship betweenRead MoreEssay 11280 Words   |  6 Pagesa favor by lowering the margin of error, which can be actually the case here in Crito. And with Socrates having the resources to escape and him, also being innocent may fit the standards to which one can escape. But of course, this theory has a flaw. First, this theory would suspect that all prisoners are honest and truthful to themselves that they can only escape if they are actually innocent, even if they do have the means to escape. Another is if you value your virtue and principle as much as SocratesRead MoreThe Utilitarian Philosophy Of Human Existence Individuals And Societies Have Made Decisions That Are Ethical And Moral Decisions2165 Words   |  9 Pages ETHICAL THEORIES Scott Carbullido, Shaun Dennis, Hilda Escudero, Alejandro Florez, Kip Parquet PHL/323 October 28, 2014 All throughout human existence individuals and societies have made decisions that affected not just themselves, but other people and civilizations. These acts had consequences, both positive and negative. How do individuals and societies make decisions that are ethical and moral? There are many philosophies that govern how to act and make ethical decisions. This paper willRead MoreOn Euthyphros Dilemma and Divine Command Essay examples1757 Words   |  8 Pagesand Divine Command In Platos Euthyphro, Socrates presents a fundamentally meta-ethical problem to Euthyphro by asking â€Å"whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods† (Plato 219)? I will relate this question to the Divine Command Theory of morality and discuss the philosophical implications associated with each possible answer to the dilemma while demonstrating fallacies and inequalities within each. Divine Command Theory (DCT)Read MoreThe Divine Command Theory : A Man For All Seasons1640 Words   |  7 PagesThe Divine Command Theory is a theory that says an action or behavior is considered right or wrong if it is commanded or condemned by God. Anything that God commands must be good, and anything that he denounces must be evil. According to DCT, a person is not moral without believing in God (Pojman 188-9). The DCT can be applied to Sir Thomas More’s reasoning and actions in his life. In Robert Bolt’s play, A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas More is viewed as a saint or a person who is morally goodRead MoreTomb of the Unknown Soldier4192 Words   |  17 Pages 4. Standoffs or fights which result in negative outcomes: Emotions may be strong, verbal fighting breaks out amp; extreme views are expressed. 6. One example of an ethical argument is Divine Command Theory: According to Divine Command Theory (DCT), our ethical obligations come from God. In DCT, Our ethical obligations are not creations of society nor are they requirements of logic. God creates ethical rightness, or at least uses his omniscience to discover objective rules of ethical rightness