Strentghs And Weaknesses Of Non Naturalistic Theories Flashcards
(6 cards)
What are some weaknesses of the DCT?
-A key problem with DCT is its tendency to prioritise obedience over moral reasoning. If goodness is simply what God commands, then anything — even cruelty — could be justified
-In Genesis 22, God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Kierkegaard described this as a “suspension of the ethical,” where faith overrides morality
-But most people would see Abraham’s obedience as deeply troubling, suggesting that divine command alone is not a trustworthy moral guide
-This raises serious concerns: if God’s will is the only standard, then morality becomes arbitrary
-Moral Intuitionism avoids this danger. W.D. Ross’s prima facie duties, like justice and non-maleficence, reflect how we actually think about ethics — weighing duties and using moral judgement. For example, lying is usually wrong, but it may be justified to protect someone from harm
What is the Euthyphro Dilemma?
-The Euthyphro Dilemma asks: Is something good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good? If the former, then morality is arbitrary — God could command torture, and we’d be bound to call it good. If the latter, then morality exists independently of God — which supports Moral Intuitionism
-DCT also struggles with internal contradictions in scripture. The same Bible that says “love your enemies” also contains commands to kill entire populations, as in Numbers 31
-This undermines the claim that divine command offers consistent guidance
-In contrast, Moral Intuitionism allows individuals to reflect and respond to moral complexity without being forced to obey potentially immoral rules. Its flexibility doesn’t mean relativism — it still holds that moral truths are real, but that we reach them through rational insight, not submission.
What are the strengths of the DCT?
-it removes moral uncertainty. According to John Calvin, “the will of God is the highest rule of justice”
-If God is perfectly good and omniscient, then His commands must be the most reliable guide. DCT provides fixed, universal laws such as “do not kill” and “do not steal,” which remain constant regardless of emotion or culture
-For believers, this provides reassurance — they know they are following a perfect moral authority. Karl Barth also argued that human reason is flawed due to the Fall (Genesis 3); Adam and Eve trusted their own judgement when tempted by the snake, leading to sin
-DCT protects against this by grounding morality in divine wisdom, not human error. In a world full of conflicting moral opinions, DCT gives clear structure and confidence in doing what is right
What are the strengths of intuitionism?
-G.E. Moore famously stated that “good is good, and that is the end of the matter,” meaning that moral terms are indefinable and cannot be reduced to anything else — including divine commands or natural facts.
-He argued that moral terms are indefinable because they refer to simple, non-natural properties that cannot be broken down into anything else — including pleasure, survival, or God’s will. He famously stated, “good is good, and that is the end of the matter,” highlighting that “good” cannot be equated with any factual property
-His open question argument supports this, showing that any proposed definition of “good” still allows for the question, “But is that really good?” — meaning no definition fully captures its meaning
-Moral Intuitionism offers a more ethically responsible approach because it respects the role of rational moral judgement. One of Intuitionism’s key strengths is that it allows individuals to assess moral situations using reason and conscience, rather than relying on external commands
-For example, Ross’s prima facie duties like justice and beneficence provide a framework that guides decisions without forcing a single rigid rule
-This is crucial in complex cases — for instance, when lying might protect someone from serious harm, intuition can guide us toward the most morally justified choice. In contrast, Divine Command Theory requires absolute obedience, even in morally disturbing cases
How does W.D Ross’ prima facie duties make intuition stronger?
-W.D. Ross built on this with his theory of prima facie duties — self-evident moral obligations like justice or promise-keeping, which we recognise intuitively
-These duties are not absolute, but must be weighed against each other using reason
-For example, although telling the truth is generally right, lying to save a life may take priority
-This flexibility allows Intuitionism to handle real-life moral complexity. Unlike Divine Command Theory, which can demand blind obedience, Intuitionism allows for both rational judgement and objective moral value, making it a more accessible and human-centred ethical system
What is a weakness of intuitionism?
-A major weakness of Intuitionism is its lack of clarity and consistency, which raises doubts about its reliability as a moral guide
-The theory depends on individuals recognising moral truths through intuition, but people often reach conflicting conclusions
-For example, one person may intuit that euthanasia is an act of mercy, while another sees it as morally wrong — yet Intuitionism offers no clear method for resolving such disagreements
-This makes it vulnerable to the charge of subjectivity: if moral knowledge is based on instinct alone, how can we judge which intuition is correct?
-Critics argue that this undermines Intuitionism’s claim to provide objective moral truths. In contrast, Divine Command Theory offers a clear and absolute moral foundation grounded in God’s will
