THE DIVINE COMMAND THEORY

Two Versions:

(1) An act A is (morally) right ó [just in case] God commands us to do A (in the relevant circumstances).

(2) An act A is (morally) wrong ó [just in case] God commands us not to do A (in the relevant circumstances).

Consider an abbreviation of the second version of the Divine Command Theory:

Forbidden by God ó Wrong

[FBG ó W]

This is a statement of two implications:

(1) FBG à W

and

(2) W à FBG

For each statement of implication, answer the following questions:

(a) What does it mean?

(b) Is there a counterexample?

THE ORIGINAL EUTHYPHRO QUESTION: Is act A wrong because God forbids it, or does God forbid it because it is wrong?

The TRUTH-MAKING Answer: A is wrong because God forbids it. (God makes it true that A is wrong.

The TRUTH-DETECTION Answer: God forbids it because A is wrong. (God detects the truth that A is wrong.)

Why is the proponent of the Divine Command Theory committed to the Truth-Making Answer to the Original Euthyphro Question?