Does Does Morality Morality Come Come From From God?God?

Phil 2525 Phil 2525

Lecture 6Lecture 6

Christ was not Christ was not teaching a new teaching a new religionreligion

He was calling the He was calling the people back to their people back to their rootsroots

He lived Jewish and He lived Jewish and he died Jewishhe died Jewish

St. PaulSt. Paul

Christianity adopted Christianity adopted Roman Roman

political organization…political organization… Pontifex MaximusPontifex Maximus

1650 Innocent X1650 Innocent X

TiberiusTiberius AD 14AD 14 John-Paul II 1990John-Paul II 1990

The secular mind gave way The secular mind gave way to the theological mind…to the theological mind…

SecularSecular -- relating to worldly things -- relating to worldly things

TheologicalTheological – relating to godly – relating to godly thingsthings

((TheoTheology is the study of religions logy is the study of religions or religious systemsor religious systems))

In ancient Greece, In ancient Greece,

reasonreason is the highest value is the highest value

In Christendom, In Christendom,

faithfaith is the highest value is the highest value

Definitions of Definitions of believers (or believers (or

non….)non….)

TheistTheistAgnosticAgnosticAtheistAtheistDeist Deist

Ethics and morality give us the rules Ethics and morality give us the rules by which we live with other peopleby which we live with other people

they set limits to our desires and actionsthey set limits to our desires and actions they tell us what is permitted and what is notthey tell us what is permitted and what is not they give us guiding principles for making they give us guiding principles for making

decisionsdecisions they tell us what we "ought" and "ought not" they tell us what we "ought" and "ought not"

to doto do

But where do they come from?But where do they come from?

A tablet of A tablet of virtues hangs virtues hangs over every over every peoplepeople

The Ten The Ten CommandmenCommandmen

tsts

Bertrand Bertrand Russell: Russell: page page

5353 Man is here by Man is here by

accidentaccident We cannot defy We cannot defy

or deny or or deny or outlive the graveoutlive the grave

The extinction of The extinction of the solar system the solar system will take us all will take us all downdown

A little A little warmth...in warmth...in

a cold a cold worldworld

5000 years 5000 years ago…ago…

Divine Command TheoryDivine Command Theory

Make it so...Make it so...

Question that Plato put into the mouth of

Socrates

Did the gods discover or invent the Did the gods discover or invent the moral order?moral order?

Is conduct right because the gods Is conduct right because the gods command it? command it?

Or do the gods command it Or do the gods command it because it’s right?because it’s right?

PrometheusPrometheus

Problems for the Divine Command Problems for the Divine Command Theory...Theory...

1.1. makes morality mysterious.makes morality mysterious.

2.2. makes God’s commands arbitrary.makes God’s commands arbitrary.

3.3. provides the wrong reasons for morality.provides the wrong reasons for morality.

““Right conduct is right because God commands it...”Right conduct is right because God commands it...”

Problems for the Divine Command Problems for the Divine Command Theory...Theory...

We could not call God ‘good’, because there We could not call God ‘good’, because there would be nowould be no

standard by which to judge. standard by which to judge.

God as the ultimate moral subjectivist....God as the ultimate moral subjectivist....

““Right conduct is right because God commands it...”Right conduct is right because God commands it...”

Problems for the Divine Command Problems for the Divine Command Theory...Theory...

1.1. suggests that ‘rightness’ exists outside of suggests that ‘rightness’ exists outside of or prior to God.or prior to God.

2.2. breaks the connection between God and breaks the connection between God and morality.morality.

God is merely a messenger...God is merely a messenger...

““God commands it because it is right...”God commands it because it is right...”

The Theory of Natural Law

Based on the ancient Based on the ancient Greek theory that Greek theory that everything has a place everything has a place and a purpose.and a purpose.

The world is orderly The world is orderly and rational.and rational.

Man has the means to Man has the means to understand the order.understand the order.

The Theory of

Natural Law

St. Thomas Aquinas’ St. Thomas Aquinas’ precepts....precepts....

Primary: Primary:

self preservationself preservation Subsidiary: Subsidiary:

1.1. procreation procreation

2.2. education of children education of children

3.3. living in society living in society

4.4. worshipping Godworshipping God

The scientists The scientists offeroffer descriptions -- descriptions -- not not prescriptionsprescriptions

Where do the values Where do the values come from?come from?

The The Divine Divine CommandCommand TheoryTheory says we should look says we should look to God’s to God’s instruction.instruction.

The The Natural LawNatural Law TheoryTheory says that says that reason will lead us reason will lead us to God’s to God’s instruction.instruction.

The Ten The Ten CommandmenCommandmen

tsts

Take a piece of Take a piece of paper.paper.

List some of the List some of the worst problems worst problems that our society that our society faces today…faces today…

Take a piece of paper.Take a piece of paper.

List some of the worst List some of the worst problems that our problems that our society faces today…society faces today…

Check mark the ones Check mark the ones addressed by the Ten addressed by the Ten Commandments.Commandments.

The 10 Commandments The 10 Commandments

1.1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Thou shalt have no other gods before me.2.2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven

image.image.3.3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy

God in vain.God in vain.4.4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.5.5. Honour thy father and thy mother.Honour thy father and thy mother.6.6. Thou shalt not kill.Thou shalt not kill.7.7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.Thou shalt not commit adultery.8.8. Thou shalt not steal.Thou shalt not steal.9.9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy

neighbour.neighbour.10.10. Thou shalt not covet. Thou shalt not covet.

Graven Graven images?images?

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man James Joyce James Joyce

Angela’s AshesAngela’s Ashes Frank McCourt Frank McCourt

The Golden Rule

Ancient Sumer (over 5,000 years ago): Ancient Sumer (over 5,000 years ago): If you take the neighbour’s field. The If you take the neighbour’s field. The neighbour will come and take yours.neighbour will come and take yours.

Rabbi Hillel (at the time of Christ):Rabbi Hillel (at the time of Christ): What is hateful to yourself do not unto What is hateful to yourself do not unto your fellow.your fellow.

Confucius (at the time of Socrates):Confucius (at the time of Socrates):

Treat others the way you want to be Treat others the way you want to be treated.treated.

Bertrand Russell’s 10 commandments :Bertrand Russell’s 10 commandments :1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. 1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. 2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, 2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light. for the evidence is sure to come to light. 3. Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed. 3. Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed. 4. When you meet with opposition... endeavour to overcome it by 4. When you meet with opposition... endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory. authority is unreal and illusory. 5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always 5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found. contrary authorities to be found. 6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for 6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do, the opinions will suppress you. if you do, the opinions will suppress you. 7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every "opinion" now 7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every "opinion" now accepted was once eccentric. accepted was once eccentric. 8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive 8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the later. implies a deeper agreement than the later. 9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient when 9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient when you try to conceal it. you try to conceal it. 10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a 10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness. fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.

Humanist Ten Humanist Ten Commandments...Commandments...

1.1. Proclaim the natural dignity and equality of all human Proclaim the natural dignity and equality of all human beingsbeings

2.2. Respect life and propertyRespect life and property3.3. Show tolerance and open mindedness towards othersShow tolerance and open mindedness towards others4.4. Share with the less fortunate and those in needShare with the less fortunate and those in need5.5. Do not dominate and exploit others through lies, or Do not dominate and exploit others through lies, or

through temporal or spiritual powerthrough temporal or spiritual power6.6. Rely on reason and logic and avoid superstitionsRely on reason and logic and avoid superstitions7.7. Conserve and improve the earth's natural environmentConserve and improve the earth's natural environment8.8. Do not resort to violence or to warsDo not resort to violence or to wars9.9. Adopt political and economic democracyAdopt political and economic democracy10.10. Develop one’s intelligence and talents through education Develop one’s intelligence and talents through education

and effortand effort

Men never do evil so completely and Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. religious conviction.

  -Blaise Pascal -Blaise Pascal ((PenseesPensees, 1670), 1670)

The Year of Living BiblicallyThe Year of Living Biblically is about is about my quest to live the ultimate biblical my quest to live the ultimate biblical life. To follow every single rule in life. To follow every single rule in the Bible – as literally as possible.the Bible – as literally as possible.

http://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asphttp://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asp

The Jewish Atheist

A resource, meeting place and A resource, meeting place and forum for those who want to live forum for those who want to live humanistic lives without Godhumanistic lives without God

http://thejewishatheist.com/?p=71http://thejewishatheist.com/?p=71

Lazarus Long...Lazarus Long...

The most preposterous notion that H. The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.in all history.

Attendance question...Attendance question...

An ounce of mother is worth a ton of An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest. priest.

......Spanish ......Spanish proverbproverb