Is there a connection between religion and morality? Ivan Karamazov, in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, famously declares that if God does not exist, then "everything is permitted." Most philosophers reject such a view and hold that moral truths do not depend on God. C.Stephen Evans argues that the truth lies somewhere between these two claims. It is not quite right to say that there would be nothing left of morality if God did not exist, but moral obligations do depend on God ontologically. Such obligations are best understood as God's commands or requirements, communicated to humans in a variety of ways, including conscience. In God and Moral Obligation, Evans also argues that two views often thought to be rivals to a divine command morality, natural law ethics and virtue ethics, are not rivals at all but provide necessary complementary elements of a comprehensive morality. A number of objections to a divine command account of moral obligations are posed and answered. In the concluding chapters Evans points out the advantages such an account has over secular rivals. The authority and objectivity of moral obligations are best explained by seeing them as divine commands.
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This book argues that moral obligations are best understood as divine commands or requirements; hence an important part of morality depends on God. God's requirements are communicated in a variety of ways, including conscience, and that natural law ethics and virtue ethics provide complementary perspectives to this view.
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1. God and Moral Obligations ; 2. What Is a Divine Command Theory of Moral Obligation ; 3. The Relation of Divine Command Theory to Natural Law and Virtue Ethics ; 4. Objections to Divine Command Theory ; 5. Alternatives to a Divine Command Theory ; 6. Conclusions: The Inescapability of Moral Obligations
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Evans is to be commended for having produced a valuable introduction to the topic of DCTs that also makes a significant contribution to the ongoing debate. ... The book will thus have strong appeal for students, and for many thoughtful people who are not professional philosophers as well as for those who are.
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`God and Moral Obligation is a success in a number of respects. Evans writes clearly, even brightly, avoiding technical philosophical jargon whenever possible. He is admirably capacious in his readiness to bring together positions often deemed at odds with one another at the same time as he offers a vigorous defense of divine command theory against its challengers. ' William Werpehowski, First Things `Stephen Evans's superbly lucid book God and Moral Obligation provides one of the best overviews of the current debate on this matter that one could hope for. ' John Cottingham, The TLS `Evans has written a highly lucid and readable book.' Terence Cuneo, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
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Argues that a divine command ethic, a natural law ethic, and a virtue ethic are not rivals but provide complementary perspectives Explores the main objections to a divine command ethic and clearly resopnds to these Compares a divine command morality to leading secular metaethical views Defends the claim that conscience is a natural faculty that provides fallible knowledge of morality
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C. Stephen Evans is University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University.
Argues that a divine command ethic, a natural law ethic, and a virtue ethic are not rivals but provide complementary perspectives Explores the main objections to a divine command ethic and clearly resopnds to these Compares a divine command morality to leading secular metaethical views Defends the claim that conscience is a natural faculty that provides fallible knowledge of morality
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198715375
Publisert
2014
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
264 gr
Høyde
216 mm
Bredde
142 mm
Dybde
12 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
210

Forfatter

Biographical note

C. Stephen Evans is University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University.