Divine Command Theory Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker: Bo Mle
• Topic: Divine Command Theory
  • Morality is determined by God's commands.
  • John Calvin: "The will of God is the Supreme rule of righteousness."
  • Famous example: The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament.

Key Scholars

John Calvin

• God's commands are inherently righteous.
• God's will is the Supreme rule of righteousness.

Carl Barth

• Good and Evil are settled by God's decree.
• Man's obedience to God answers all ethical questions.
• Scripture should critique society, not the reverse.

Theological Context

• Ethical Monotheism: One God is the source of morality (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).
• Human moral behavior should mirror God's image (Imago Dei).
• Protestants view the Bible as the sole source of Christian ethics.

Strengths of Divine Command Theory

• Consistent with ethical monotheism.
• Provides clear, objective, and unchanging moral principles.
• Supports the authority of holy books as containing divine commands.

Weaknesses of Divine Command Theory

• Requires belief in God: Not applicable for atheists or secular ethicists.
• Potentially outdated or immoral commands: The Bible may contain outdated or contradictory instructions.
  • Example: Slavery and homosexuality.
• Youthfro Dilemma: Questions whether actions are right because God commands them or if God commands them because they are right.
  • Arbitrariness Problem: Morality might be based on God's whims.

Youthfro Dilemma

• Two Statements:
  1. God commands something because it is morally right.
  2. Something is morally right because it is commanded by God.
• Problems:
  • If God commands because it is right, morality is above God.
  • If something is right because God commands, morality is arbitrary.

Rebuttals to Youthfro Dilemma

• Robert Adams' Rebuttal:
  • Morality comes from God, who is omnipotent and omnibenevolent.
  • Emphasizes God's loving character.
• Richard Dawkins' Critique:
  • Challenges God's benevolence based on Old Testament depictions.
  • Views God as morally unpleasant.

Conclusion

• Divine Command Theory hinges heavily on theism and the perceived nature of God.
• Raises significant debates about the nature of morality and divine commands.

End of Lecture Notes

• Comments and questions are encouraged for further understanding.