Moral Argument

• For many Aquinas’ Fourth Way leads to the moral argument.

• Experience things = are noble, true and good. • Must get it from things that are more noble, true

and good.• To avoid infinite regression, must conclude

something is the most noble, true and good. • This is what we call God.

• In other words: I am good, I take my goodness from something more good. There must be an ultimate goodness = God.

• ‘A posteriori’ argument• Absolutist about morals – they don't

change. Kant criticised Teleo, Cosmo, Onto arguments = invalid.

1. Because human reason is limited – God is unlimited. God is beyond our understanding.

2. These cannot be proofs of God’s existence, not possible to prove God because we don't understand him.

3. It is however possible to ‘infer’ him, through ‘practical reason’ – infer from human experience of God.

Doing what is right = happiness – which all humans seek

People have a sense of moral obligation- duty/ categorical imperative

The greatest good or happiness is called Summon Bonum

Summon Bonum cannot be achieved in this life

Whatever can be sought must be achievable because universe is fair

Must postulate (assume) an afterlife where the summon bonum can be achieved

Therefore necessary to postulate that God exists in order to guarantee that the universe if fair so that

the summon bonum is achieved

• Kant is not trying to prove God’s existence but is merely arguing that:

• IF the universe is fair• And IF the summon bonum can be

achieved• Then God and after life are necessary

postulates.

• What happens to this arguments if the universe is not fair?

SupportersJames Richmond:1. Persuasive to believers = man can see the Divine

in his surroundings2. Moral Argument is an invitation to have faith,

provide a goal for mankind to strive towards3. The alternative is bleak and purposeless.

John Henry Newman:1. Conscience is the Voice of the Lawgiver - real

knowledge of God.2. Deep seated sense of moral obligation,

responsibility to do what is right.3. Feel guilty and ashamed if do something wrong.4. Therefore the existence of conscience =

existence of God.

Impossible to proveEvolution: behave morally because want others to behave morally towards us.Maybe there is a law giver but who says that it is God?Peter Cole: Why should virtue be rewarded with happiness? Assumes that the universe is fair but is it? Why should virtue be rewarded at all, not a means to an end.

Kant argues that only God can bring about the Summon Bonum. But why God?Brain Davies: “why not a pantheon of angels?”Kant argues that there is an absolute moral law. Is this always the case? What about morality that is based on Cultural Relativism, not the summon bonum.

Critics: FreudMorals come from unconscious mind developed

by parents.Oedipus complex: (age 5)1. Boy falls in love with mother2. Mother loves father3. Must kill competition, so mother is all mine.4. Bu father is bigger and stronger and will

castrate me for such thoughts5. Must take away the fear. Must identify with

same sex parent and take on his behaviours, habits, beliefs, values and morals.

6. Must not disappoint parents and be socially unacceptable. Must become like father.

Deep deep down at the bottom of unconscious mind – son’s love of mother.

Conscience: based upon guilt of disappointing parents. Must conform

to societies behavioural expectations.

Morality comes from human conscience not GOD.

Marx:1. Everything we believe is attached to our one life not God/

after lifeNietzsche:1. God only exist in the mind of the believer2. Invention of mindRyle:1. Determined by your own character not God2. Only the physical existsJ. L. Mackie:1. To much evidence against Moral Argument e.g. from

psychological explanationsWilliam James:1. God is real2. God is needed in human experience.