PHIL 347 Midterm Questions & Answers
2024
Moral realism - ANS-- there are both objective moral truths and objective moral fallacies
Moral realism steps - ANS-(1) no statement is true/false except objective reality makes
it so
(2) there are true moral statements
(3) so, moral statements are made true or false by objective reality
Kant on moral realism - ANS-(1) it is rationally (morally necessary) to find perfect good,
since happiness comes f. *complete virtue*
(2) there is an obligation to attain what is *possible* to be attained
(3) perfect good's goal is only possible if natural order/causality are parts of a greater
moral order
(4) moral order only possible if God is the source
(5) so, there is a moral necessity to conclude God exists
Euthyphro dilemma - ANS-- does God will the good because it is good?
OR
- is it good because God wills it?
Good because it is good - ANS-- "the good" and "God" become indep. f. each other, so
must be followed
- problematic because "the good" itself is not divine
Because God wills it - ANS-- makes "the good" contingent on God, whatever God
commands is "good"
- no room for intrinsic good
Aquinas on the Euthyphro dilemma - ANS-- not a dilemma, because God and the good
are the *same thing*
- this is due to the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity: God is identical to his attributes
Kant on God's moral criteria - ANS-- Abraham should have inferred he was *not*
hearing the voice of God, but he was unable to since he thought morality becomes f.
2024
Moral realism - ANS-- there are both objective moral truths and objective moral fallacies
Moral realism steps - ANS-(1) no statement is true/false except objective reality makes
it so
(2) there are true moral statements
(3) so, moral statements are made true or false by objective reality
Kant on moral realism - ANS-(1) it is rationally (morally necessary) to find perfect good,
since happiness comes f. *complete virtue*
(2) there is an obligation to attain what is *possible* to be attained
(3) perfect good's goal is only possible if natural order/causality are parts of a greater
moral order
(4) moral order only possible if God is the source
(5) so, there is a moral necessity to conclude God exists
Euthyphro dilemma - ANS-- does God will the good because it is good?
OR
- is it good because God wills it?
Good because it is good - ANS-- "the good" and "God" become indep. f. each other, so
must be followed
- problematic because "the good" itself is not divine
Because God wills it - ANS-- makes "the good" contingent on God, whatever God
commands is "good"
- no room for intrinsic good
Aquinas on the Euthyphro dilemma - ANS-- not a dilemma, because God and the good
are the *same thing*
- this is due to the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity: God is identical to his attributes
Kant on God's moral criteria - ANS-- Abraham should have inferred he was *not*
hearing the voice of God, but he was unable to since he thought morality becomes f.
