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How does he explain the moral authority that guides him as a "sort of divine and daimonic thing . . . a sort of voice" (p. 47)? What do you understand this to be?

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Final answer:

The divine as a guide for moral authority is contested by various philosophical positions, from Divine command theory, which equates good with God's will, to Ethical naturalism, which separates moral virtue from divinity. The Euthyphro problem complicates this divine command view by questioning the independence of moral goodness from divine will. Moreover, the concept of an objective moral order like 'Heaven's Intent' suggests a universal moral standard that transcends human understanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns the source of moral authority and whether it is inherently divine or can be understood separately from a divine source. The concept of the divine as a moral guide is embedded in various philosophical positions, such as the Divine command theory, which posits that what is good is determined by God's commands.

On the other hand, the Euthyphro problem challenges theistic ethical systems by questioning whether moral goodness is independent of or decreed by God. Additionally, ethical frameworks such as Ethical naturalism suggest that moral values are based on natural world facts rather than divine dictates.

Moral realism posits the existence of objective justifications for moral beliefs, including divine or natural sources. However, some philosophical inquiries reject the idea that moral authority is strictly a divine mystery, advocating instead for reason and comprehension of moral principles.

Moreover, figures such as the Mohists allude to a universal moral order, symbolized by 'Heaven's Intent', framing an objective standard beyond human interpretation.

Ultimately, the debate about the divine versus autonomous nature of ethics remains a central theme in philosophy. The ethics-morality discussion not only touches upon God's authority and knowledge, but it brings into question aspects like human empathy, eudaimonia, and the capacity to embody virtues reflective of what is deemed as the divine or highest good.

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