Purchase Solution

Is morality determined by God's will or by man's reason?

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

1.Consider any of Rachels three objections to the theory of divine command. Do you think he is onto something here? Are there implications for either the divine or moral law if Rachels is right in his objection?

Objection: "morality is a matter of reason and conscience, not religious faith"

No, I don't think Rachels is onto something. Reason and conscience are lousy guides for morality because they are subjective rather than objective. If I use reason and conscience I could conceivable lie one day and it would be moral and I could tell the same lie tomorrow and it would be immoral based on my reasoning and conscience on each of the two days. The implication for divine and moral law is that there are no absolutes. If a type of activity is wrong sometimes and right at other times then I become God because I determine, by using my reason and conscience, if in this circumstance it is an immoral or moral action. If each person is God, determining right and wrong then what happens when you get a number of these God's together? Either some of them have to admit that they are not autonomous or you get anarchy.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

A discussion regarding morality and the source from which we base our concept of morality. Over 600 words of original text.

Solution Preview

1.Consider any of Rachels three objections to the theory of divine command. Do you think he is onto something here? Are there implications for either the divine or moral law if Rachels is right in his objection?

Objection: "morality is a matter of reason and conscience, not religious faith"

No, I don't think Rachels is onto something. Reason and conscience are lousy guides for morality because they are subjective rather than objective. If I use reason and conscience I could conceivable lie one day and it would be moral and I could tell the same lie tomorrow and it would be immoral based on my reasoning and conscience on each of the two days. The implication for divine and moral law is that there are no absolutes. If a type of activity is wrong sometimes and right at other times then I become God because I determine, by using my reason and conscience, if in this ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy

Short quiz relating to Descartes

The World Health Organization

This quiz assesses the students knowledge about the World Health Organization. Although listed under “Philosophy” it is relevant to health care, political science, pre-med, and social scientist students as well.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Abraham, Kant, Kierkegaard, God, Faith, and Morality

    Can God ask us to do things that go against reason and morality? Which takes precedence, God's command or reason? (It depends on whether one believes in God or not. Also it depends on how strong such a belief is.)

  • Rationalizing the Existence of God and Religion

    Therefore failing a test, or even taking one, must be God's fault too. Coban, I (2010) Free Will and Foreknowledge in Augustine.

  • Does God really exist?

    As a result, the problem of God's existences impacts the nature of man's knowledge, reality and ethical life which makes it necessary to seek the truth of God's existence.

  • Should reason or emotions determine ethical life choices?

    Kant believed that there are moral absolutes that we can determine through reason alone and not by emotions. Are there certain moral absolutes that we should live by? Well the answer to this is yes.

  • "Argument of Evil"

    Morality is a rational enterprise. The aim of such arguments is to show that if there is no source of moral order morality will collapse. It will cease to be a sustainable enterprise.

  • The Bible Teaches God's Justice and Innate Goodness

    Regarding the last set of right and wrong: the dictionary definition of "right" is "conforming to justice, law, or morality". "Wrong" is defined as "not conforming to justice, law, or morality."

  • Moralities of Intent and Consequences

    To Kant, there is nothing good in the world except a good will. As long as someone means well, that is, follows the dictates of reason, the demands of morality have been met.

  • Plato, Artistotle and Religion: Multiple Choice Questions

    b) It is necessary to choose between viewing God as less that supreme because God is subject to a higher moral standard or viewing morality as arbitrary depending on God's will.

  • Questions on Job and the Psalms

    How to read/interpret Job and Psalms questions is determined.

View More Related Solutions