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PHIL 1020 Midterm Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Pass
State Socrates question for Euthyphro. - ANS "Does God command us to do actions because
they are morally right or are actions morally right because God Commands them?"
Explain how the first option (from Socrates question) is a problem for the Divine Command
Theory - ANS Divine Command Theory: an act is morally right because it is commanded by
God, and immoral because God forbids it
The problem with the first option is that the DCT is saying the because God commands
something it is moral no matter what.
Begins the Euthyphro Argument
Euthyphro Dilemma - ANS from Plato's dialogue
Argument between Moral Argument for God's existence and Divine Command Theory
1.Either God has reasons that support His commands, or God lacks reasons for his commands
2.If God lacks reasons for His commands, then God's commands are arbitrary—and that renders
God imperfect, undermining His moral authority
3.If God has reasons that support His commands, then these reasons, rather than the divine
commands, are what make actions right or wrong—thereby refuting the divine command
theory.
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4.Therefore, either God is imperfect, or the divine command theory is false.
5.God is not imperfect.
6.Therefore, the divine command theory is false.
Is there a way for the Divine Command Theorist to solve this problem while still endorsing the
first option? and Explain - ANS There is not a way for DCT to solve this problem because if
God does not have a reason for his commands, then God's commands are arbitrary and he is no
longer considered perfect. If the DCT is true then God could say it is morally right to steal and
murder; a morally perfect God could never do this. So, if according to the DCT if God told us to
do something that was considered immoral it would then be considered moral, which is not
right. Divine Command theorist try to say that "God commands because it is morally right", but
they can not do this because the DCT claims that everything that God commands is right.
Giving up the DCT preserves God's perfection.
Define consequentialism - ANS The view that acts are right just because they maximize the
amount of goodness in the world or bad just becausethey maximize the amount of badness in
the world.
Called this because ethics is focused on the consequences of actions
Explain why utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism - ANS Utilitarianism: an action is
morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action
you could have done in the circumstances.
Well-being can be considered a matter of pleasure and pain
it is a form of consequentialism because it focuses on the results and outcome
How does consequentialism differ from rival approaches to ethics? - ANS It requires us to
move beyond egoistic concerns, and to focus on improving the lives of others, as well as our
own. Acts are morally right just because they maximize the amount of goodness in the world.
PHIL 1020 Midterm Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Pass
State Socrates question for Euthyphro. - ANS "Does God command us to do actions because
they are morally right or are actions morally right because God Commands them?"
Explain how the first option (from Socrates question) is a problem for the Divine Command
Theory - ANS Divine Command Theory: an act is morally right because it is commanded by
God, and immoral because God forbids it
The problem with the first option is that the DCT is saying the because God commands
something it is moral no matter what.
Begins the Euthyphro Argument
Euthyphro Dilemma - ANS from Plato's dialogue
Argument between Moral Argument for God's existence and Divine Command Theory
1.Either God has reasons that support His commands, or God lacks reasons for his commands
2.If God lacks reasons for His commands, then God's commands are arbitrary—and that renders
God imperfect, undermining His moral authority
3.If God has reasons that support His commands, then these reasons, rather than the divine
commands, are what make actions right or wrong—thereby refuting the divine command
theory.
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4.Therefore, either God is imperfect, or the divine command theory is false.
5.God is not imperfect.
6.Therefore, the divine command theory is false.
Is there a way for the Divine Command Theorist to solve this problem while still endorsing the
first option? and Explain - ANS There is not a way for DCT to solve this problem because if
God does not have a reason for his commands, then God's commands are arbitrary and he is no
longer considered perfect. If the DCT is true then God could say it is morally right to steal and
murder; a morally perfect God could never do this. So, if according to the DCT if God told us to
do something that was considered immoral it would then be considered moral, which is not
right. Divine Command theorist try to say that "God commands because it is morally right", but
they can not do this because the DCT claims that everything that God commands is right.
Giving up the DCT preserves God's perfection.
Define consequentialism - ANS The view that acts are right just because they maximize the
amount of goodness in the world or bad just becausethey maximize the amount of badness in
the world.
Called this because ethics is focused on the consequences of actions
Explain why utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism - ANS Utilitarianism: an action is
morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action
you could have done in the circumstances.
Well-being can be considered a matter of pleasure and pain
it is a form of consequentialism because it focuses on the results and outcome
How does consequentialism differ from rival approaches to ethics? - ANS It requires us to
move beyond egoistic concerns, and to focus on improving the lives of others, as well as our
own. Acts are morally right just because they maximize the amount of goodness in the world.
