The Divine Command Theory: A Nonconsequentialist Theory

823 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Strengths and weaknesses of Divine command theory

Divine Command Theory: (When employing the DCT in an argument, you must always cite a specific source ie. scripture, doctrine etc. to validate your claim.) The Divine Command Theory says that any action, whether good or bad, is morally right if God is the one commanding the action (Vaughn 71). This theory belongs to the nonconsequentialist theory— an ethical theory that states that right and wrong are not determined by the consequences of an action (Vaughn 71). The Divine Command Theory is a Nonconsequentialist Theory because God is the source of truth and the rightness and wrongness of the action is based on the accepted rule of God’s words. Philosophers, Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716) and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) were heavy believers of the Divine Command Theory and believed that, “If God doesn’t exist, everything is …show more content…

Everything in nature has a purpose and anything that prevents a person from living a good life is considered immoral and unnatural. A simple example would be; telling the truth is good while lying is wrong. Other things that are unnatural or go against nature are anything that disrupts what is a normal process and that helps humans move forward (Vaughn 71). Anything such as murder, homosexuality, and abortion would be considered wrong and immoral to someone who believes in the Natural Law Theory. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were the first to hint at the natural law theory. They knew that law was different place to place but that “nature” was the same everywhere. Aristotle (BC 384-322) is considered the father of the “natural law” (“Natural Law”). Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) made it to what the Roman Catholic Church today uses. The theories views of abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia and other controversial issues are used in the church (Vaughn 109). Many people, religious or not, believe that people can figure out moral rules and live a moral

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Divine Command Theory And Relativism

    1415 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Divine Command Theory and Relativism make strong claims on the source of morality. Robert C. Mortimer describes in Morality Is Based on God’s Commands that morality itself is derived from the act of God deeming things as either right or wrong. The following claim “If God does not exist, then everything is permitted,” is believable when following Divine Command Theory as compared to other theistic views. I shall display two theist claims which respectively accept and reject the previous statement, as well as arguing the the plausibility of each claim.

    Read More

  • On Euthyphro's Dilemma and Divine Command

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    or character of God, and that the morally right action is the one that God commands or

    Read More

  • Toture And Ethics: Why Is Torture Wrong?

    1304 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example Christians follow the Bible, Jew read the Quran and American citizens follow obey the United States Constitutions and laws. The definition of natural law is principles originated from nature that bind human societies together in the absence of additional positive laws (“Dictionary Natural Law,” n.d.). According to Brecher, Devenney & Winter (2010), the United States Constitution prevents the use of torturing criminals and suspected terrorist.

    Read More

  • Humanity And Morality In Mere Christianity By C. S. Lewis

    1410 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mere Christianity is divided into four books or sections that build and expand off of the prior. The first book is entitled “Right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe” and he examines the common understanding among all men of a universal moral law hardwired in the minds of men. He begins this examination with a presentation of man’s concept of right and wrong. The simplest understanding among all men is the concept of fairness. This fair play points to a law and can be seen in the reactions of mankind to justice and injustice. He contrasts this moral law, the Law of Human Nature, with the law of nature found in the world. The mind of the moral relativist denies such standards yet fail to recognize their call for fairness as a fatal flaw in their reasoning.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Monstrosity In The Tempest

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is defined as ‘natural’ or normal can be seen as monstrous and ‘unnatural’ for another. This contributes to the differing ideas of the human condition and what defines a human being. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley 's’ Frankenstein had spent most of his life in the task of creating life. “I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body.” (Ch. V) The Creature that is created by Frankenstein is immediately neglected by his creator. A creature

    Read More

  • Divine Command Theory Research

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Divine Command theory of ethics is a theory that states that an act is right or wrong and good or bad based on whether or not God commands or prohibits us from doing it. This means that the only thing that makes an action morally wrong is because God says it is. There are two sides to this theory; the restricted and the unrestricted. The restricted theory basically says that an action is obligatory if and only if it is good and God commanded it; the unrestricted theory states that an act is only obligatory if it is commanded by God, it is not obligatory if it is prohibited by God and it is optional if and only if God has not commanded nor prohibited it.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Divine Command Theory

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    For many years now, people have always wondered what ethical principle is the right one to follow. These individuals are all seeking the answer to the question that the ethical principles are trying to clarify: What defines moral behavior? The Divine Command Theory and the theories of cultural relativism are two principles of many out there that provide us with explanations on what our ethical decisions are based on and what we consider to be our moral compass in life. Even though these two theories make well-supported arguments on why they are the right principle to follow, it is hard to pinpoint which one should guide our choices because of the wide array of ethical systems. Therefore, what is morally right or wrong differs greatly depending

    Read More

  • Ethical Theories (Midterm Exam)

    1879 Words  | 4 Pages

    Divine command states that what is moral is determined by what God commands, and that to be moral is to follow his commands. For example, Jehovah’s witnesses do not allow blood fusions because their scriptures say humans are not allowed to drink blood; although blood transfusions are allowed for children. Even though modern society does not condemn blood transfusions many Jehovah’s witnesses do not allow blood transfusions because they believe God does not allow blood transfusions. God is the almighty, and what he commands is morally right. Another concrete application of divine command theory is the five pillars of Islam. One must devote his life to following the five pillars; the pillars are correct because God insists upon it. Every Muslim is obliged to believe that there is no other God than Allah, ritual prayer must be done five times a day facing the holy city Mecca, fasting must be done during the month of Ramadan, give at least 2.5% savings to the poor, and make a visit to Mecca at least once in a person’s life time. People follow divine command to the fullest because it is moral to follow God’s commands.

    Read More

  • The Divine Command Theory

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    In order to understand divine command theory we must first understand the nature of God and Morality. So we will start by taking a look at what makes an action moral. Once we understand what makes an action moral, we can then try to understand the author's’ viewpoint on the divine command theory of ethics. Understanding the viewpoint will allow us to dissect the author’s viewpoints and come up with counter-arguments that the author must then contend with.

    Read More

  • The Utopian Vision of Mother Teresa

    2072 Words  | 5 Pages

    "The theory of natural law is the view that moral values are fixed features of the universe which all humanity can discover through reason."(Fiesner) The Golden rule is an example of natural law. When you do onto others as you would want done onto you, you follow natural law. Equality provides for natural laws to thrive. Mother Teresa always strove for the equality of all people, but many would say that she felt superior to others. It is stated that the greatest flaw in the Mother Teresa's teachings "is the belief that as long as a sister obeys [Mother Teresa] she is doing God's will."(Adams) This is inherently a downfall, but it is only natural for the person who creates something to want to control it. "There was brazen hypocrisy in Tere...

    Read More

  • The Universal Law Formula of the Categorical Imperative

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    The universal law formula of the categorical imperative ("the CI") is an unconditional moral law stating that one should “act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” A maxim is the motivating principle or reason for one’s actions. A moral act is an act by which its maxim can become universal law that would apply to all rational creatures. As a universal law, all rational creatures must act according to this maxim. The CI requires one to imagine a world where the maxim one wishes to act by becomes a universal law, in which all people must act according to this maxim. If one wills this maxim to become universal law that all rational creatures must follow, but there is a contradiction in conception or will, than this maxim cannot become universal law, and thus, the act is not morally permissible. A contradiction in conception occurs when by willing one’s maxim to become universal law, one is imagining a logically impossible world, for there is a contradiction in the very idea of every rational creature acting on this maxim. In contrast, a contradiction in will does not yield a logically impossible world, but there is a contradiction in willing what it is one proposes to do and in wanting the maxim to become universal law.

    Read More

  • Faith Or Reason?

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Aquinas was a teacher of the Dominican Order and he taught that most matters of The Divine can be proved by natural human reason, while “Others were strictly ‘of faith’ in that they could be grasped only through divine revelation.” This was a new view on the faith and reason argument contradictory to both Abelard with his belief that faith should be based on human reason, and the Bernard of Clairvaux who argued that one should only need faith.

    Read More

  • Natural Law And Positive Law

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    While the philosophers such as Plato were not deemed to be lawyers, their theories later set forth later developed with natural law (Riddall, pg. 59). Classical natural law theory was deemed skeptical by those believing many would value selfish means of natural desires to an extent in which others are disregarded, but philosophers such as Plato recognized the need for such principles to be moderated in order for natural responsibilities to occur a moral approach (Coleman, pg. 3). Such moderation sought by Plato was with the intent to legitimize legal orders on the account of their ethical principles. These desires or responsibilities are founded on natural, universal yearnings, demonstrating why such a foundation has proven to be so versatile in its use. The moral principles set forth through religion also played a major role in determining what was the appropriate standard as Christianity was such a dominant force in this age. This power was further applied by St Thomas Aquinas through his interpretations of living in a godly society, primarily how this involved man being at peace with one another, and allowing them to serve their religious inclinations. Aquinas favored law being for the “divine good” of society, and claimed that law that does not adhere to such principle is in fact, unjust, therefore invalid (Riddall,

    Read More

  • Natural Law Vs Divine Command Theory

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, while both the Natural Law Theory and the Divine Command Theory have aspects that I don’t agree on, both brought interesting ways to look at the world and the

    Read More

  • The Natural Law by Thomas Aquinas

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    The natural law was given to man so that he might know virtue. While the natural law is vague, and hard to understand it always points in the right direction. Human law derives its precepts from the natural law. However, human law often misinterprets what the highest good is and creates laws that disagree with the natural law. One case where the natural law conflicts with human law is abortion, which is directly opposed to the natural law of God.

    Read More

More about The Divine Command Theory: A Nonconsequentialist Theory

Open Document