Final answer:
The claim that philosophical ethics and religious conviction are inherently incompatible is false. Philosophical work has historically been intertwined with religion, and many philosophers have been believers themselves. Philosophy seeks to combine reason with ethical inquiry, which can include exploring the connections or distinctions between divine commands and moral principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that philosophical ethics is necessarily incompatible with religious conviction is false. The history of philosophy shows a deep intertwinement with religious thought. Many philosophers have been religious believers, and their philosophical work has often addressed or been influenced by religious concerns. The field of philosophy itself provides tools for reason and critical thinking that can complement faith rather than stand opposed to it.
It is true that the rise of Logical Positivism and other modern philosophical movements introduced a more critical perspective on religion’s claims, but this did not eliminate the possibility of a philosophical approach to ethics that can coexist with religious conviction. On the contrary, philosophical ethics often explores the divine or the role of divine authority in ethical reasoning, while also recognizing the human capacity for moral reasoning independent of religious doctrine.
Furthermore, philosophers like Socrates engaged in the development of ethical frameworks that sought to look beyond the constraints of both mythopoetic thinking and ethical relativism, demonstrating that philosophy often seeks a 'third alternative' to absolutism and cultural relativism. They sought structures that could hold moral truths without necessarily being grounded solely in religious or cultural practices.