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The _____ _____ theory is the theory that the rightness or wrongness of an action is intrinsically related to the fact that God either commands it or forbids it?

User Mourodrigo
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Final answer:

The Divine Command Theory posits that moral values are based on God's commands, where what God commands is inherently good and what God forbids is inherently bad. It can involve evolving decrees, is non-consequentialist, and raises the Euthyphro problem concerning the independence of moral goodness from divine will.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theory that the rightness or wrongness of an action is intrinsically related to the fact that God either commands it or forbids it is known as the Divine Command Theory. This ethical perspective maintains that moral standards are dictated by God's commands; what God commands is deemed morally good, and what God forbids is considered morally bad. This theory is a form of deontology, where the morality of an action is based on its adherence to rules or duties rather than its consequences.

Within the Divine Command Theory, the content of these commands need not be static or tied to specific religious texts, like the Ten Commandments, but can involve new or changing decrees by the deity. This implies that the understanding of what is good may evolve with new divine commands, even if they appear to contradict earlier moral norms.

Thus, Divine Command Theory establishes a non-consequentialist framework for its adherents, where actions cannot be questioned on any grounds other than whether they align with the divine will—leading to potential ethical dilemmas like the famous Euthyphro problem posed by Socrates.

User Llimllib
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