RE: Formally Disproving Divine Command Theory
April 2, 2013 at 2:40 pm
(This post was last modified: April 2, 2013 at 2:46 pm by Undeceived.)
This "disproving" only works if God commands "Lying is always wrong." If "bearing false witness" has a broad connotation that builds in intent, SDCT holds up. Even if you can prove that God commands never to lie, the existence of two wrong actions does not invalidate a theory. It merely means that whatever you do, you do something wrong--letting someone die, or lying. In a sinful world, that's not implausible. But for the life of me, I cannot imagine the scenario you're trying to put forth. Take the famous axe-murderer scenario. An axe-murderer shows up at your door and asks where your friend is hidden. To save your friend, you have to lie. But is this bearing false witness against your neighbor? No. It's merely depriving someone of true information. And ultimately, the scenario would never had arisen if the world was sinless.
Of course, all this is a defense of Strong Divine Command Theory, which says that an action is right if and only if and because God commands it. Weak Divine Command theory states that an action is right if God commands it, but not because God commands it.
Of course, all this is a defense of Strong Divine Command Theory, which says that an action is right if and only if and because God commands it. Weak Divine Command theory states that an action is right if God commands it, but not because God commands it.
