PHILOSOPHY - Religion: God and Morality, Part 1

Summary

In this philosophical discourse, Stephen Darwall from Yale University explores the relationship between morality and the concept of God. He delves into the divine command theory, which posits that moral right and wrong are derived from God's commands. Darwall challenges this theory by suggesting that the existence of God and the moral wrongness of violating divine commands do not necessarily mean that morality is solely based on those commands. Instead, he argues for the existence of moral truths independent of divine will, using examples from literature like 'Huckleberry Finn' to illustrate the transcendence of morality over societal laws and norms.

Takeaways

• 📚 Stephen Darwall is a philosophy professor at Yale University discussing the relationship between morality and God.
• 🤔 The central question is whether God's existence is necessary for morality, and if moral values would exist without divine command.
• 📜 The 'divine command theory' posits that moral right and wrong are derived directly from God's commands and prohibitions.
• 🚫 Ivan from 'Brothers Karamazov' suggests that without God, there would be no moral constraints, implying everything would be permissible.
• 🧐 Darwall challenges the divine command theory by arguing that the existence of God and the wrongness of violating His commands do not necessarily make morality equivalent to those commands.
• 🔍 He illustrates that believing it's morally wrong to violate God's commands for certain reasons could actually disprove the divine command theory, suggesting there are moral truths independent of God's will.
• 📖 One reason to be attracted to the divine command theory is its explanation of the link between morality and law, suggesting moral obligations are akin to divine laws.
• 🌐 The theory also differentiates between earthly laws and 'morality itself,' which are seen as genuinely obligating moral norms beyond societal norms.
• 📚 The example of Huck Finn's moral dilemma in 'Huckleberry Finn' is used to show the conflict between societal and divine laws, and the potential for moral truth to transcend them.
• 🤝 Huck's bond with Jim, a runaway slave, leads him to question the morality of the law he is expected to follow, suggesting a deeper moral truth.
• 💡 The divine command theory is appealing because it can account for the idea that morality is more than just societal norms and has a transcendent quality.
• 🤨 However, Darwall's argument implies that morality may be independent of divine commands, suggesting a broader, perhaps intrinsic, understanding of right and wrong.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in this video script?

The speaker in this video script is Stephen Darwall, a philosophy professor at Yale University.

What is the main topic of discussion in the script?

The main topic of discussion is the relationship between morality and God, specifically the divine command theory which posits that morality is derived from God's commandments and prohibitions.

According to the script, what does Ivan from 'Brothers Karamazov' suggest about morality and God's existence?

Ivan suggests that if God doesn't exist, then anything is permitted, implying that moral right and wrong are contingent upon God's existence.

What is the divine command theory?

The divine command theory is the view that moral right and wrong are constituted by God's commands and prohibitions, and without God, there would be no moral obligations or prohibitions.

What are the two assumptions that Stephen Darwall wants to illustrate as not implying the divine command theory?

The two assumptions are (1) that God exists and (2) that it's morally wrong to violate God's commands. Darwall argues that these do not imply that moral right and wrong consist solely in God's commands and prohibitions.

Why does Stephen Darwall believe that believing in the second assumption actually implies the divine command theory is false?

Darwall argues that if one believes it's morally wrong to violate God's commands for certain reasons, it implies there must be truths about moral right and wrong that are independent of God's commands, thus contradicting the divine command theory.

What reasons might one be attracted to the divine command theory according to the script?

One might be attracted to the divine command theory because it explains the close connection between morality and law or requirement, and it distinguishes between earthly laws or societal norms and genuinely obligating moral norms or truths of moral right and wrong.

How does the script use 'Huckleberry Finn' to illustrate a moral conflict?

The script uses Huck's dilemma in 'Huckleberry Finn' to illustrate a moral conflict where Huck feels morally obligated to return Jim, a runaway slave, even though it goes against his sense of common humanity, thus highlighting the conflict between societal laws and moral truths.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between God's commands and moral truths?

The script suggests that even if one believes in God's commands, it does not necessarily mean that moral truths are the same as God's commands. There may be moral truths that transcend any earthly law or social understanding.

What is the purpose of discussing the divine command theory in the script?

The purpose of discussing the divine command theory is to explore the philosophical question of whether God is necessary for morality and to challenge the idea that moral right and wrong are solely dependent on divine commands.

How does the script conclude about the necessity of God for morality?

The script suggests that morality may not be dependent on God's existence, as there may be independent truths about moral right and wrong that transcend divine commands.