The Divine Command Theory: Virtue Ethics Argument?

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Recommended: Introduction to virtue ethics

3. My Arguments
The Divine Command theory is the ethical theory that I believe is the best ethical theory to live by. One problem with this theory, as stated by several philosophers, is whether or not that theory would make God the originator of morality. Many believe that if this were the case, then God could will any crime to become morally right. According to some, if this were the case, it would mean that God’s commands become arbitrary and have no real reason behind them. As a religious person, I am inclined to believe that a supreme being automatically knows what is best for his own creations simply because of the fact that he created them. Just as a parent acts in the best interests of their children, God acts in a way that will have the best end result …show more content…

This theory, when put into practice, does hold a good amount of truth to it. It is only logical to look towards the actions of the people who have the qualities you admire. However, like Kant’s theory, I believe virtue ethics is also covered by the Divine Command theory. Many look towards the examples of the faithful ones listed in the Bible in order to guide their actions today. The problem with virtue ethics is then filled by the Divine Command theory. This is true because virtue ethics lacks a moral principle to define whether the actions of one label them to be virtuous. The actions of the faithful ones in the Bible are regarded as virtuous because they follow God’s standards. Without the divine command theory, virtue ethics is caught in a paradox. The right thing to do is what the good person does and the good person is the one doing the right thing. Judging what is virtuous can be very subjective in some instances. On top of this, even the virtuous people can still do the wrong things. It is nearly impossible to rely just on the actions of others to dictate for ourselves what the morally right thing is to do without crossing over with another ethical

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