Question: Divine Command Theory: “Divine Command Theory is a religiously grounded moral philosophy that undermines some of the core tenets of religious belief.” Critically discuss and evaluate this statement with reference to the Euthyphro Dilemma.

Divine Command Theory (DCT) is a religiously grounded moral philosophy that has been critiqued on the basis of the Euthyphro Dilemma. The Euthyphro Dilemma, as posed by Plato in his dialogue of the same name, goes as follows: "Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?" If we take the first horn of the dilemma, then DCT would be false; if we take the second horn, then DCT would be circular. In either case, DCT appears to be problematic.

There are a few ways to respond to this dilemma. One could argue that both horns are false; that is, neither the gods' love nor our concept of piety is based on the other. Another response would be to claim that the dilemma itself is false; that is, there is no reason to think that the gods' love for the pious and the pious's love for the gods are mutually exclusive. A third response would be to argue that, even if the dilemma is true, it does not show that DCT is false; rather, it simply shows that DCT is not as straightforward as it might first appear.

In any case, it seems clear that DCT faces some serious challenges in light of the Euthyphro Dilemma. Whether or not these challenges are fatal remains to be seen.

Divine Command Theory (DCT) is a religiously grounded moral philosophy that has been critiqued on the basis of the Euthyphro Dilemma. The Euthyphro Dilemma, as posed by Plato in his dialogue of the same name, goes as follows: "Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?" If we take the first horn of the dilemma, then DCT would be false; if we take the second horn, then DCT would be circular. In either case, DCT appears to be problematic.

There are a few ways to respond to this dilemma. One could argue that both horns are false; that is, neither the gods' love nor our concept of piety is based on the other. Another response would be to claim that the dilemma itself is false; that is, there is no reason to think that the gods' love for the pious and the pious's love for the gods are mutually exclusive. A third response would be to argue that, even if the dilemma is true, it does not show that DCT is false; rather, it simply shows that DCT is not as straightforward as it might first appear.

In any case, it seems clear that DCT faces some serious challenges in light of the Euthyphro Dilemma. Whether or not these challenges are fatal remains to be seen.

Divine Command Theory (DCT) is a religiously grounded moral philosophy that has been critiqued on the basis of the Euthyphro Dilemma. The Euthyphro Dilemma, as posed by Plato in his dialogue of the same name, goes as follows: "Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?" If we take the first horn of the dilemma, then DCT would be false; if we take the second horn, then DCT would be circular. In either case, DCT appears to be problematic.

There are a few ways to respond to this dilemma. One could argue that both horns are false; that is, neither the gods' love nor our concept of piety is based on the other. Another response would be to claim that the dilemma itself is false; that is, there is no reason to think that the gods' love for the pious and the pious's love for the gods are mutually exclusive. A third response would be to argue that, even if the dilemma is true, it does not show that DCT is false; rather, it simply shows that DCT is not as straightforward as it might first appear.

In any case, it seems clear that DCT faces some serious challenges in light of the Euthyphro Dilemma. Whether or not these challenges are fatal remains to be seen.