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.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Divine Command Theory

Stephen Darwall, a philosophy professor at Yale University, introduces the topic of morality's relationship with God. He questions whether morality is contingent upon divine commandments and whether moral values would exist without God's directives. Darwall references Dostoyevsky's 'Brothers Karamazov' to illustrate the 'divine command theory,' which posits that moral right and wrong are derived from God's commands and prohibitions. He challenges this theory by suggesting that even if one believes in God and moral obligations, this does not necessarily imply that morality is solely based on divine commands, hinting at the existence of independent moral truths.

Keywords

💡Morality

Morality refers to the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. In the video, the concept of morality is central to the discussion on whether it is inherently linked to God's commands. The speaker explores the idea that morality might exist independently of divine commandments, challenging the notion that moral right and wrong are solely defined by God's will.

💡Divine Command Theory

The Divine Command Theory is a philosophical position that asserts that moral requirements are derived from the commands of God. The video script delves into this theory, questioning whether the existence of God is necessary for morality. It is used to explain the connection between morality and law, suggesting that God's commands are the source of moral law.

💡Stephen Darwall

Stephen Darwall is a philosopher and professor at Yale University. In the script, he introduces himself and sets the stage for the discussion on the relationship between morality and God. His role is to guide the audience through the philosophical inquiry, providing insights and arguments against the Divine Command Theory.

💡Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky is a renowned Russian novelist, and his work 'The Brothers Karamazov' is referenced in the script. The character Ivan from the novel encapsulates a version of the Divine Command Theory, famously stating, 'If God doesn't exist, then anything is permitted,' which is used to illustrate the extreme implications of the theory.

💡Ivan Karamazov

Ivan Karamazov is a character from Dostoevsky's novel who represents a viewpoint that aligns with the Divine Command Theory. His quote is used in the script to highlight the belief that without God, there would be no moral constraints, thus emphasizing the perceived dependency of morality on God's existence.

💡Huckleberry Finn

Huckleberry Finn is the protagonist of Mark Twain's novel, and his moral dilemma is used in the script as an example to illustrate the conflict between societal laws and personal moral convictions. Huck's struggle with the Fugitive Slave Act and his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave, serves to underscore the complexity of moral decisions that may not align with divine or societal commands.

💡Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Act is a historical law mentioned in the script, which required the return of escaped slaves to their owners. It is used as a context to discuss the moral obligations Huck feels under this law, contrasting it with his personal moral conviction to help Jim, thus highlighting the tension between law and morality.

💡Moral Obligation

Moral obligation is the sense of duty or responsibility to act in accordance with moral principles. In the video, the concept is explored in relation to divine commands and societal laws. It is used to argue that moral obligations may not always align with what is legally or socially required, as seen in Huck's internal conflict.

💡Transcendence

Transcendence, in the context of the video, refers to the idea that morality exists beyond the confines of earthly laws or societal norms. The script suggests that the Divine Command Theory can explain why we perceive morality as transcending human-made laws, indicating a higher moral order.

💡Mores

Mores are the customary norms, values, and practices of a society. The script contrasts these with the concept of 'morality itself,' suggesting that divine command theory can account for the difference between societal norms and what is genuinely morally obligatory.

💡Slavery

Slavery is used in the script as an example of an institution that is morally evil, despite being legally and socially accepted in certain historical contexts. It serves to illustrate the argument that moral truths may exist independently of societal laws or divine commands, challenging the Divine Command Theory.

Highlights

Stephen Darwall, a philosophy professor at Yale University, discusses the relationship between morality and God.

The question is raised: Is God necessary for morality, or would things be morally neutral without divine command?

Darwall references Dostoyevsky's 'Brothers Karamazov' and the quote 'If God doesn't exist, then anything is permitted' to introduce the divine command theory.

The divine command theory posits that morality consists solely of God's commandments and prohibitions.

Without God commanding certain actions, nothing would be morally right or wrong, nor would anything be permitted, according to this theory.

Darwall aims to show that the existence of God and the moral wrongness of violating divine commands do not equate to morality being solely God's commands.

He argues that believing it's morally wrong to violate God's commands for certain reasons implies the existence of moral truths independent of God's commands.

Darwall explores reasons why one might be attracted to the divine command theory, such as its explanation of the connection between morality and law.

The theory suggests that God's commands create moral law, providing a reason for the obligatory nature of moral actions.

Darwall discusses the contrast between earthly laws and 'morality itself,' highlighting the theory's ability to explain the transcendence of genuine moral norms.

Using 'Huckleberry Finn' as an example, Darwall illustrates the conflict between societal morality and genuine moral obligations.

Huck's internal struggle in the novel reflects the idea that morality may require actions contrary to societal laws or divine commands as perceived.

The divine command theory is seen as attractive for explaining why morality may go beyond societal laws and understandings.

Darwall challenges the theory by suggesting that morality's transcendence does not mean it is identical to God's commands.

He implies that even if God's commands exist, the nature of morality could still be independent, with its own set of truths.

The lecture concludes by emphasizing the philosophical exploration of whether morality is inherently linked to divine command or stands as a separate moral reality.

Transcripts

(Intro music)

My name is Stephen Darwall[br]and I teach philosophy

at Yale University in[br]New Haven, Connecticut.

And today I want to[br]discuss morality and God.

Is God necessary for morality?

Would anything be right or wrong

if God did not command or prohibit it?

In Dostoyevsky's "Brothers Karamazov,"

the character Ivan says,

"If God doesn't exist, then[br]anything is permitted."

This is a version of the[br]view that is sometimes

called the "divine command theory."

The divine command theory[br]holds that morality

just is God's commandments[br]and prohibitions.

If there were no God who commands us

to act in certain ways, then nothing

would be morally right or wrong.

Actually, strictly speaking,

nothing would be permitted either,

despite what Ivan says.

The categories of moral right,

wrong, and permissibility[br]simply wouldn't apply.

This is the view I want to consider.

I'll be trying to illustrate how

the truth of two assumptions,

(1) that God exists and

(2) that it's morally wrong to[br]violate God's commands,

do not imply (3) that[br]moral right and wrong

just consist in God's[br]commands and prohibitions.

And to make this especially vivid,

I will show how if one believes (2),

that is, that it's morally wrong to

violate God's commands[br]for certain reasons,

then far from that implying the

divine command theory, it actually implies

that the divine command theory is false,

because it implies that[br]there must be truths

about moral right and wrong that are

independent of God's commands.

First, however, let's notice some reasons

that one might be attracted to

holding the divine command theory.

One is that it explains[br]the close connection

between the idea of morality and that

of law or requirement.

What is morally wrong to do is not

just what there are[br]good reasons not to do.

It is what one is morally[br]obligated not to do.

That suggests that[br]morality is a kind of law.

And the divine command theory can

explain why that's so:

God's commands create the moral law.

Secondly, the theory also explains the

contrast between any earthly law,

or any society's mores or morality

and what we might call "morality itself,"

or "morality with a capital 'M,'"

that is, genuinely obligating moral norms

or the truths of moral right and wrong.

Consider for example Huck Finn's quandary

in Mark Twain's novel "Huckleberry Finn,"

which is set in Missouri[br]before the Civil War.

Huck has become close to[br]Jim, who is a runaway slave.

Under the Fugitive Slave Act, Huck is

legally required to turn Jim in.

And Huck believes also that according

to the moral convictions[br]of his time and place

he's morally required to do so as well.

Indeed, he thinks that[br]God's commands require

him to do so and that, as he says,

he'll go to hell if[br]he doesn't turn Jim in.

But feeling a profound bond with Jim

as a fellow human being,

Huck simply can't bring himself to do so.

Now obviously Twain is assuming that

his readers will agree[br]with Huck's expression

of common humanity and disagree with

Huck's belief that it would actually be

morally wrong not to turn Jim in.

even if they also agree that this would

be contrary to the morality of the

Antebellum South and Missouri.

What makes the novel so powerful

is that despite himself Huck seems to

sense that morality[br]doesn't actually prohibit,

in fact that it may actually require,

or at least recommend, that someone in

his situation violate[br]the Fugitive Slave Law

and oppose slavery, since slavery's

a morally evil institution.

The divine command theory could explain

this distinction between morality

and any society's laws or mores.

Although Huck thinks that God commands us

to return a runaway slave[br]or always to obey the law,

we may think that God does[br]not actually command that.

God commands that people oppose slavery.

The divine command theory is an attractive

view precisely because it can explain

our sense that morality transcends any

earthly law or social understanding.

Still, that doesn't show that morality

is the same thing as God's commands,

in the sense that if there[br]were no divine commands,

then nothing would be right or wrong.

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