Final answer:
Ruth Benedict equates "it is morally good" with "it is a socially approved habit," highlighting a form of ethical relativism that differs from Divine Command Theory and is not based on a fixed or divine standard, but rather on societal consensus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ruth Benedict argued that the phrase "it is morally good" is synonymous with "it is a socially approved habit." Her perspective implies a form of ethical relativism, where moral values are based on the customs and habits of a particular society rather than fixed or absolute standards. This understanding contrasts with the Divine Command Theory, which sees God as the principle for morality and suggests that what is 'good' is good because God commands it. The Euthyphro Dilemma explicitly questions this theistic approach, asking if something is good simply because God declares it so, or if it is good due to some inherent quality regardless of divine command.
Benedict's view aligns more closely with the notion that social consensus defines morality, hence something is good because it aligns with societal norms and practices. This ties into concepts such as ethical naturalism, which bases morality on natural facts about the world. However, Benedict's stance maintains that it is the social acceptance, rather than natural facts or divine will, that grants an action its moral status.