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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_command_theory
Divine command theory is the meta-ethical view about the semantics or meaning
of
ethical sentences, which claims that ethical sentences express propositions,
some of which are true, about the attitudes of God. That is, it claims that
sentences such as "charity is good" mean the same thing as sentences such as
"God commands charity".
This makes divine command theory a subjectivist[1] yet universalist form of
cognitivism. Divine command theory thus stands in opposition to other forms of
ethical subjectivism (e.g. ideal observer theory, moral relativism, and
individualist ethical subjectivism), as well as to moral realism (which claims
that moral propositions refer to objective facts, independent of anyone's
attitudes or opinions), error theory (which denies that any moral propositions
are true in any sense), and non-cognitivism (which denies that moral sentences
express propositions capable of being true or false at all).
It is often argued that divine command theory is refuted by the Euthyphro
dilemma (so named because a version of it first appeared in Plato's dialogue
Euthyphro): "Is an action morally good because God commands it, or does God
command it because it is morally good?"
Logically religion is based on that, but people try to make utilitarian
arguments usually with some rare deontological arguements. Do Baha'is ever
invoke divine command theory while explainig laws?
* Saint Thomas Aquinas claimed that God creates moral norms that
reflect his
own essence, meaning that his demands are not arbitrary. In this case, it would
become necessary to examine the essence of God.
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