The divine command theory proposes that for an action to be morally right it has to be asserted by God (Simpson, Piazza & Rios, 2016) . A person has to follow God’s commands to be termed as moral, and God’s commandments determine what is ethical. God’s commands in Morality establishment have been accepted by both followers of monotheistic and polytheistic religions. Commands of God inform us of the content of morality rather than determining the content.
Morality being resolute by gods and ethical truths not existing independently of God are some of the teachings of the theory. Many believers pledge to some divine command, and the theory asserts that the authority of God defines the goodness of an action. God desires what is morally right; thus adherence to God is a moral obligation. The theory assumes that there is a god, God forbids and instructs specific actions, a deed is correct if God commands it and what God outlaws or directs is what people ascertain.
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Advantages of Divine Command Theory
Morality necessitates faith in God and the next world; thus we must be confident in the existence of God for Him to help us satisfy moral law demands. One must believe in a Divine being that that rewards happiness to the righteous as being ethical is not a guarantee of satisfaction. Morality demands are too much for us to bear; thus one needs to believe in God to help us satisfy these demands.
The theory provides impartial metaphysical grounds for morality. Truths such as objective moral certainties, for those dedicated to their reality, fit well within a theistic context. This means that objective noble truths existence is at home if universe origin is a personal moral being. Contrary, the presence of such facts turns out to be philosophically bewildering if the universe origin is non-moral (Ellis, 2014) . Moral properties cannot come out of non-moral roots.
God holds us accountable for our action; thus we have to be moral. Evildoers will be punished, and the morally upright will be rewarded and vindicated. Operations that run counter self-sacrifice have profound merit and significance in the theistic framework.
Criticisms of Divine Command Theory
If the intention for being just is to get eternal delight and evade punishment, it is then less idealistic for moral drive account, and this is said to be moral immaturity. Pure inspiration grounded on penalty and incentive is insufficient. Morally reprehensive actions become morally obligatory if God’s fundamentals and directives of morality become arbitrary (Ellis, 2014) . Such a case is if God commands us to inflict pain to others for fun. It is considered morally right as God commanded it; thus the theory encounters difficulty.
The omnipotence of God means that He can do all possible things and not the impossible. Sin is objectionable to supremacy as crime is falling short of a perfect deed. Sin has a character contrary to omnipotence. God not doing evil actions is brought about by His omnipotence but not abound to His power.
Many religions exist in the world each having different morality prescriptions. These religions have conflicting nature accounts and command contents of God. A divine theoretic has to decide on the spiritual understanding to embrace and the divine powers she finds persuasive. The moral is considered to be those who keep an eye on the truthful religion, correct understanding of that religion which is a big problem.
Divine command theory and autonomy are incompatible as we follow a moral law enacted on us externally rather than being self-legislating (Ellis, 2014) . God’s will rather than our own will governs our moral existence. Supporters of this theory, however, argues that we are responsible for submitting or disobeying God’s orders thus moral responsibility and the approach are compatible (Al-Attar, 2015). Basing on this argument, once we agree to be subjective to the moral law once we understand it however much it is footed on the commands of God.
References
Al-Attar, M. (2015). Metaphysics of divine command theory. The Routledge Companion to Islamic Philosophy , 315.
Ellis, B. (2014). The philosophy of nature: A guide to the new essentialism . Routledge.
Simpson, A., Piazza, J., & Rios, K. (2016). Belief in divine moral authority: Validation of a shortened scale with implications for social attitudes and moral cognition. Personality and Individual Differences , 94 , 256-265.
