Ethics

Running Head : Ethics

Ethics

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Introduction

Divine command theory- It holds that an act is either moral or immoral solely because God either commands us to do it or prohibits us from doing it . Natural law theory is a philosophical and legal belief that all humans are governed by basic innate laws , or laws of nature , which are separate and distinct from laws which are legislated . On divine command theory , the only thing that makes an act morally wrong is that God prohibits

doing it . Universal ideas about fairness which cross cultural divides are an excellent example of natural law . Many children for example , appeal to a sense of fairness in disputes , and most people around the world agree that murder is a severe infraction of natural law

Rather than grounding the objectivity of ethics , Divide command theory completely undermines it by insisting that God 's commands (like those of individuals or societies ) do not require justification in terms of any external principles . It holds out that morally good is commanded by God while morally bad is forbidden by God . It means that that there is no outside definition or judgment of good or evil that can be used to evaluate God 's decision . So , if God had decided that murder , rape and torture was morally good , then it is good . Theists cannot possibly deny the possibility that God could have so ordained , because then they would have to admit that their moral judgments are really independent of God 's . On the other hand , Natural law theory eventually gave rise to a concept of natural rights . One philosopher argued that human beings in the state of nature are free and equal , yet insecure in their freedom When they enter society they surrender only such rights as are necessary for their security and for the common good . Each individual retains fundamental prerogatives drawn from natural law relating to the integrity of person and property (natural rights

As Christians , we believe that God commands certain things because they are good . But under divine command theory , it 's the other way around Before God commands that helping old ladies over a street is good , it is not good . Before God says that raping young girls is wrong , it is not wrong . Further , it follows from this theory that God cannot justify his moral decisions . If God gives a reason for moral decisions , then there are objective reasons beyond God 's arbitrary decisions (i .e . they are not arbitrary at all , and there are standards beyond God 's command on which his moral decisions are founded . Unlike Divine command theory natural law is the concept of a body of moral principles that is common to all humankind and , as generally posited , is recognizable by human reason alone . Natural law is therefore distinguished from and provides a standard for positive law , the formal legal enactments of a particular society . Since law must always be some dictate of reason , natural law also...