What is descriptive ethics?
Describes how people behave, compares ethical norms in different societies.
What is meta-ethics?
Branch of ethics that examines moral language and how it can be justified.
What are the three approachs of meta-ethics?
Ethical naturalism, non-naturalism and non-cognitivism.
What is Divine Command Theory?
Religious theory of ethics that suggests moral commands come from God.
What does secular ethics mean?
Non-religious ethics, based on moral intuition or views on how people should live.
What do secular ethics not share in common with religious ethics?
Sources of authority, as religious ethics holds God as ultimate authority in ethical matters (DCT).
Why does DCT argue that whatever God commands must be good?
Because God is the source of all goodness, so whatever he commands must also be good and what he forbids must be evil.
What is a flaw with DCT, in relation to understanding what God commands/forbids?
Because God’s commands mainly come from scripture, this means that there are different interpretaions on what God commands in different denominations and religions. For example, Judaism promote seating Kosher food based on scripture.
Which famous theological text did John Calvin use to justify DCT based on the absolute power of an omnipotent God?
The Institues of the Christian Religion.
What does John Calvin say challgenging God’s will means?
That you are asking for something Greater than God - which is impossible in Christian context. Means that DCT is natural result of absolute power and sovereignty of God.
What book did Karl Barth present a similar argument in relation to DCT, as John Calvin?
Church Dogmatics.
Why does Karl Barth argue it is not a concern of Christian doctrine to understand and define ethical problems?
Because obedience to God anwsers all questions about ethics.
What is Catholic view in relation to authority when it comes to meta-ethics?
That Church leaders (Pope) have authority to pronounce matters of doctrine and ethics using scripture. In line with DCT.
What are the five strengths of DCT?
For religious people, grounds moral behaviour in teachings of God, rules are universal, system is clear and straighforward, links God’s moral commands with promise of life after death and God does not have weakness of human judges (fair judge).
What are the four weaknesses of DCT?
Cannot tell if commands in Bible were given by God (no original version of Old Testament/translations), Bible contains immoral commands (slavery, homosexuality), problem of autonomy, euthyphro dilemma.
What is the direct quote for the euthyphro dilemma?
“is conduct right because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is right?”
What is the problem if you accept the first part of the euthyphro dilemma, “is conduct right because the gods command it”?
God loses moral goodness, as it implicats everything God commands is good and cannot be challenged - yet God commended slaughter of innocent children, so children of Israel could enter Promised Land.
What is the problem if you accept the second part of the euthyphro dilemma, “or do the gods command it because it is right”?
God loses omnipotence, implicates God commands actions that are good in themselves so there is external law to God.
What solution did William of Ockhalm suggest to the euthyphro dilemma?
Adopt first option, “bite the bullet” - God is God so God can command anything including murder or genocide must be obeyed.
What is the flaw with suggesting the God’s nature and character are the same in relation to the euthyphro dilemma?
Does not solve the issue of genocie and murder in the Bible.
What is naturalism grounded in?
Facts in nature/human nature.
How do naturalist theories decide what is ethical?
Based on people’s behaviour and the world, they deduce right from wrong.
