¶ … morality still exist if God did not exist?
Is something pious because it is loved by the gods -- or do the gods love all that is pious? This is the central question asked in Plato's dialogue the Euthyphro (Ross 2012). The dialogue revolves around a young man who has elected to bring charges against his father for killing a slave. To complicate matters still further, the slave was accused of murder himself before he was killed. The question is never answered in the dialogue, but this raises the question: if something is only moral because the gods approve of it, what if there is no God? Is there then no morality?
Socrates seems to suggest that morality is intrinsic to actions themselves, given his largely deflationary view of traditional myths of the Greek gods. This is one of the reasons that he was charged with impiety under Athenian law. Socrates also points out that what he sees as Euthyphro's excessive loyalty to objective codes of ethics is itself against Athenian codes of law, because sons and fathers are not obligated to bring charges against one another. He sees Euthyphro as excessively pious, to the point of absurdity, and further tries to demonstrate to the young man that Euthyphro does not really know what piety means. "It is more disturbing to Socrates, [that Euthyphro bring charges] because the basic unit of Greek religion is the home and the household...The father of the family is thus the family priest" (Ross 2012).
Socrates' view that what is loved by the gods is not necessarily moral is supported by his analysis of the often fractious behavior of the Greek Olympians, particularly the philandering Zeus, and Zeus' father Kronos, who tried to kill his own children. Clearly, if the gods behaved in such a manner they must 'love' things which no reasonable person would consider pious and which are prohibited by Athenian law. Imitating the gods does not make one moral. The polytheism of Socrates' society supports his argument to some degree, because he can...
God and Science The art of philosophy, demonstrated throughout history in all its arguments, present certain obstacles and contextual distortion for the state of humanity. There is no doubt it is worthwhile then, to examine some of the most troubling and difficult philosophical issues of the day. The idea of God and its role in humanity and its science will probably never be settled however the discussion itself helps create new
It indicates that he is set apart form all that is creaturely and corrupt, that he is distinct from this physical and fallen world. It affirms that God is not like humans, angels, false gods, animals -- or anything in existence. In short, we may say that there is no one like God, even though that statement has the obvious limitations of a negative sentence -- it does not
God on Trial: Movie Analysis and Review The Holocaust of World War II spawned many tragedies, one of which was the crisis of faith it precipitated amongst European Jews. The film God on Trial depicts the inhabitants of a concentration camp literally putting God on trial for his crimes against humanity as they wait to be "sorted out" into groups of who will live and who will die at Auschwitz. The
Morality and Ethics in Henry Fielding's Novel Joseph Andrews This paper looks into the subject of morality and ethics as depicted by Henry Fielding in his novel 'Joseph Andrews'. The book seeks to discard the notions held by 18th century English society in connection with morality and thus offers a better and 'more active' definition of the term. According to Fielding, morality was not solely connected with chastity and thus he
Moral Criticisms of the Market Moral Criticisms Market This assignment requires read article Ken S. Ewert (found Reading & Study folder). Note article, Ewert defending free market "Christian Socialists." He states position a rebuttal Moral criticisms of the market: A critique of Ewert's analysis It is interesting to read Ken S. Ewert's 1989 criticisms of 'Christian socialists' in light of current debates on other types of economic policies today. Ewert portrays Christian, leftist
Abraham acts like a man who has been chosen; he acts with the assurance that he is superior to others and that he has Yahweh's favor. In fact, he boldly intercedes when Yahweh informs him that He plans to destroy Sodom, and Sodom is briefly spared as a result of Abraham's righteousness. What Abraham's story makes clear is that Old Testament righteousness cannot be defined or explained by modern
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