Final answer:
Ethics can be viewed as either an expression of the divine or as principles derived from human reason independent of divine authority. Major Western religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam see God as central to their ethical principles. The philosophical Euthyphro problem questions the nature of this relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether ethics are an expression of the divine or exist independently of divine authority has been a central debate in philosophical and theological discourse. Normative Ethical Relativism suggests that moral codes are culture-specific and hence vary across societies, but this view fails to provide a universal basis for morality. To counter this, many philosophers, since the days of Socrates, have posited that through human reason, one might find ethical principles with universal applicability. For instance, Plato's search for the principle of the good illustrates this rational approach to ethics.
In contrast, religious ethical systems often attribute their moral foundations to a divine source. The major Western religious traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—invoke God as the central figure of their ethical principles. The belief that morality is dependent on religious adherence, however, is challenged by research suggesting a basis in human cognition and culture. Post-modern ethics critique the idea that morality is necessarily derived from natural law or divine command.
Addressing the relationship between God and goodness is the Euthyphro problem, which questions whether moral goodness is grounded in divine fiat or whether divine commands are based on an independent standard of goodness. The work of theologians like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, who both sought to use reason to support and elucidate their faith, exemplifies the intersection of religion and philosophical ethics.