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This week and next, our assignment is Chapter 2 in the textbook, Ethics Theory and Contemporary Issues. We will read the chapter, and below I will put up a few questions. Your job is to pick one question and respond in about a paragraph. Definitely make use of the ideas presented in the chapter to write an answer. But before that, I will briefly set up a little about what is in the chapter.
Chapter 2 is a discussion about the relation between secular, rational ethics and religious ethics, or between reason and faith. The main example on the secular rational side is the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the scientific Enlightenment tradition the stands behind it. On the Religious side, examples include traditions of Civil Rights and Civil Disobedience, which both have a religious underpinning. Another aspect of religious morality is the idea of "Divine Command," which is a main feature of many religions.
According to the idea of divine command, our actions are good or right when they follow God’s commandments. And the good or the right in these actions is determined by God’s having commanded them. And yet, it seems reasonable to ask, isn’t it possible that God commands us to do certain things because those things are good in themselves? God sees the good, and commands us to do the good because it is good. However, if we see it that way, it means that the good–whatever it is–is good in itself, independently of God’s will. This is one of the focal points of the conflict between faith and reason. Faith takes God’s command as good because it originates in the will of God. Reason asks if there is a good in itself, universal, and discoverable by our own lights–like the axioms we were talking about.
Here are some questions from the chapter. Pick one and write a paragraph.
1. The U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights talks about the "inherent dignity of human beings," and their "inalienable rights." It goes on to talk about how the goal of human societies is to bring about a world in which people have "freedom of expression, freedom from fear and want." These ideas derive from the European Enlightenment tradition of the 18th century, and therefore have a specific historical, cultural background. The question is, even though these ideas are cultural, does that mean they cannot be universal as well? Why or why not?
2. One aspect of the Divine Command idea is that a motivation to be good is to avoid divine punishment, and to get a divine reward. The question is, does that motive mean that being good or doing the right thing is not enough all by itself?
3. Does the existence of many religions, and even many sects within one religion, imply that we do not have the full story about God, the universe and everything? Or, is it more the case that religious pluralists have it right: there may be many religions, but they all more or less aim at the same goal? The chatper quotes the poet Rumi, "the lamps are many, but the light is one (p. 28)."
4. Is it necessary for us to have the full story about God, the universe and everything?
5. Is it ok to disobey an unjust law (assume that it is well understood that the law is unjust)?
6. Can an atheist be a good person?
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