Final answer:
The discussion centers on Divine Command Theory, which cites God's commands as the basis for morality, and contrasts it with other ethical frameworks like ethical naturalism and deontological ethics. Divinity-based ethics imply that God is the ultimate authority on what is good, yet also face challenges like the Euthyphro problem that query the nature of goodness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Divine Command Theory and Ethics
The question explores the realm of divine ethics, specifically the Divine Command Theory, which posits that morality is ultimately determined by the commands of God. This theory suggests that what is good is what God commands, placing divine authority as the foundation for all ethical judgment. This idea has further implications for moral philosophy, particularly within the context of Western monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, the Divine Command Theory is utilitarian within small sects rather than these major religions, due to the complexities it raises such as the Euthyphro problem, which questions whether something is good because God commands it, or if God commands it because it is inherently good.
Alternative Ethical Frameworks exist alongside Divine Command Theory. Ethical naturalism, for instance, grounds moral values in the inherent facts of the natural world rather than divine mandates. Moreover, various philosophical thoughts like those presented by Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas suggest that ethical understanding may be a combination of divine instruction and natural order. For example, Aquinas identified four types of laws—eternal, natural, human, and divine—which together shape the mosaic of moral wisdom.
The Deontological approach in ethics, by contrast, asserts that morality is derived from duties recognized by rational agents, which are determined independently of divine revelation or the consequences of actions. Ethical systems based on divine concepts may view God as the ultimate judge or as an exemplar of virtue wherein the emulation of divine attributes like love is the basis for moral actions.