Divine Command Theory

Definition

Divine command theory is the metaethical view that moral rightness stems solely from the commands or nature of God or a divine being. It holds that what is moral is determined by what God commands, and that we have a duty to obey these divine commands.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Divine command theory grounds morality in the will of a divine being, typically the Judeo-Christian God, rather than in human reason or the consequences of actions.
2. Proponents of divine command theory argue that moral truths are objective and universal because they are grounded in the unchanging nature of God.
3. Critics of divine command theory contend that it makes morality arbitrary, as God could theoretically command anything and it would be considered moral.
4. Divine command theory faces challenges in reconciling the apparent moral flaws or inconsistencies found in some divine commands, such as those in the Old Testament.
5. Defenders of divine command theory argue that God's nature is inherently good, and thus his commands will always align with true morality.

Review Questions

• Explain how divine command theory relates to the field of metaethics.
  • Divine command theory is a metaethical view that seeks to ground the source of moral rightness in the commands or nature of a divine being. As a metaethical theory, it is concerned with the fundamental questions of what makes something morally right or wrong, and whether moral facts are objective or subjective. By locating the basis of morality in the will of God, divine command theory offers a metaphysical account of the nature of moral properties and moral knowledge.
• Describe how divine command theory meets the requirements of a normative moral theory.
  • Divine command theory aims to provide a normative ethical framework by specifying the criteria for what is considered morally right or wrong. By basing morality on the commands of God, it offers a set of moral rules or duties that individuals are obligated to follow. Proponents argue that this provides an objective and authoritative foundation for morality, as opposed to moral theories that ground rightness in human reason or the consequences of actions. However, critics contend that divine command theory fails to adequately address the requirements of a comprehensive normative moral theory, such as providing guidance for resolving moral dilemmas or accounting for the moral status of non-believers.
• Analyze how divine command theory relates to the deontological approach in ethics.
  • Divine command theory is closely aligned with the deontological tradition in ethics, which judges the morality of an action based on its adherence to moral rules or duties, rather than its consequences. By grounding morality in the commands of a divine being, divine command theory establishes a system of moral obligations that individuals are duty-bound to follow, regardless of the outcomes of their actions. This emphasis on moral rules and duties over consequences is a hallmark of deontological ethical theories. However, critics argue that divine command theory faces challenges in reconciling apparent moral flaws or inconsistencies in some divine commands, which calls into question the objectivity and universality of the moral rules it seeks to establish.

Related terms

Metaethics:

Metaethics is the study of the nature of moral judgments, moral statements, and moral properties, as well as the meaning of moral language and the metaphysics of moral facts.

Deontology:

Deontology is an ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules, rather than the consequences of the action.

Normative Ethics:

Normative ethics is the study of ethical action, and is concerned with the criteria for what is considered morally right or wrong, good or bad.