Key Questions

1
Key Questions

• Are there any things which are always wrong?
• Should decisions be based on the situation?
• Should religious people have high moral
  standards?
• Are they realistic?
• What exactly is and isnt good?
• Can you have morality without religion and
  religion without morality?

2
How are Religious and Moral decision making
related?
Here we need to look at two Key
ideas Autonomy And Heteronomy
3
What is meant by the claim that moral values are
autonomous?

• It means that moral values are independent of
  religious belief.

• It contrasts with Heteronomy

• Highlights reason as the main source of morality.

• Describes reasons for the rejection of religion
  as the source of Morality. (e.g. conscience,
  upbringing)

• Explains that both religious and non-religious
  people can accept that moral values are autonomous

4
What is meant by the claim that moral values are
heteronomous?

• Morality is heteronomous if it depends on
  religious belief or if it has been developed with
  reference to a set of values provided by a
  religion

• Natural Law Theory reason based on religious
  principles

• Society influenced by religious views and
  attitudes, these have an unconscious effect, even
  on those who are not religious.

• Religious inspiration to give courage and
  conviction to put what one understands as right
  into effect

5

• Heteronomous moral systems give greater
  guarantee of conformity to moral rules
  (autonomous rely on reasonableness and good-will)

• Ultimate authority for Christian morality (as
  for other religions ) is Gods will.

6
Ethical Theories

• The Euthyphro Dilemma

7

• Discussion between Socrates and Euthyphro.

(Socrates -was an ancient Greek philosopher who
is widely credited for laying the foundation for
Western philosophy.)
(Euthyphro is one of Plato's known early
dialogues.Shortly before the Greek philosopher
Socrates is due to appear in court, he encounters
a young man, Euthyphro, who has gained the
reputation of being a religious expert.)
8
Euthyphros Position Whatever the God/s command
is obligatory just because they command it
God/s commands are absolute.
9
Socrates position
There is a standard of goodness independent of
the gods (God). The God/s are no longer standard
of morality.
10
Questions

• Is a thing right because the Gods command it?

• Do the Gods command it because it is good?

11
Socrates -
God commands us to do good because it is Good.
Actions are good in themselves. c.f. Platos
Form of the Good.
12
Euthyphro
A divine command theory

• If God commands it then it is good.
• God is always right
• If God appears to be wrong, refer to point 1
  above.

Theists position
Goodness intrinsic to God
13
Intelligent responses to Divine Command theory
The Intelligent person cross checks commands,
holy books, traditions, teachers.
It goes beyond what they think God is telling
them.
14
The Golden Rule

• Found in all religious traditions, and cited by
  many non religious moral philosophers.

So in everything, do to others what you would
have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and
the Prophets.
Matthew 712