notes for 2/14/02 Carolyn Barnhart carolyn pinekonefamily@earthlink.net

<title>notes for 2/14/02 Carolyn Barnhart carolyn pinekonefamily@earthlink.net</title>
Class notes for 2-14-02<br>
Carolyn Barnhart<br>
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Divine command Theory (Morality)<br>
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-Layman- only religion gives people a reason to be moral all the time (even when no one <br>
Is looking)<br>
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-Classic DCM- God is required as a metaphysical foundation for morality<br>
	-an act is right if and only if it is in accord with God's command<br>
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Dostoeusky- "if God does not exist then everything is permitted."<br>
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Criticisms-<br>
1. How do we know what god's commands are, which of the reletations if any do we believe- Tanakh (old testament), New testament, Quva, Berdstupanishads<br>
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2. How do you know there is a God?<br>
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3. Religion has a history of inspiring evil as well as good<br>
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4. Cynical- hidden assumption that the only reason to be moral is because it is in your self-interest.<br>
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5. Is forgiveness a license for immorality?<br>
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Layman about Arthur- offers explanation about moral behavior but not a rational justification. Explains why people do what they do but also doesn't give good reasons for why you should be moral.<br>
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-Arthur- Euthyphrog (Yoo-thuh-frouh) problem-<br>
	Does God command things because they are right or are things right simply<br>
Because God commands them?<br>
	Ex. God commands against promiscuous sex because of STD's, unwanted<br>
Pregnancies, emotional problem ext. - Human welfare and happiness- <br>
	What makes promiscuous sex wrong isn't any negative consequences but just the<br>
Fact God said don't do it.<br>
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2nd View- Arbitrary- what if God commanded stealing, killing, and torturing babies for fun would make it right.<br>
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1st. View- If god has reasons those reasons make up morality- the reasons define morality and it is irrelevant whether the view is Gods.<br>
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Criticism- Arthur- morality and conscience isn't so "Social" self image and self esteem plays and important roll.<br>
Utilitarianism-Utility= pleasure and the absence of pain- happiness<br>
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The greatest happiness principal- greatest happiness for the greatest number<br>
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Maximizes happiness (all living things equal)<br>
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2 parts of Utilitarianism<br>
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1. Theory of value- Hedonism- a view that only pleasure is of intrinsic value.<br>
2. Theory of action- maximizes the value of pleasure<br>
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Intrinsic vs. extrintrinsic (instrumental)- money valuable because it gets you something else.<br>
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