PHIL 1020 Midterm Actual study set with
Questions and correct/verified Answers
State Socrates question for Euthyphro. - ANSWER-"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 -
ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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.
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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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
Questions and correct/verified Answers
State Socrates question for Euthyphro. - ANSWER-"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 -
ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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.
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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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
