The Euthyphro Dilemma is a famous philosophical problem concerning the relationship between morality and divinity (God or gods). It originates from Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro, in which Socrates asks Euthyphro:
“Is the pious (τὸ ὅσιον) loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?”
The Question
This question presents a dilemma with two challenging options (often called “horns”):
- Is something morally good because God commands it?
- This view is known as Divine Command Theory.
- Problem: If this is true, morality seems arbitrary. God could command anything (e.g., cruelty, theft), and it would, by definition, become morally good. Many find this counter-intuitive, as it suggests morality doesn’t have a rational basis independent of God’s will. Furthermore, it makes statements like “God is good” seem empty or tautological (meaning merely “God commands what God commands”).
- Does God command something because it is morally good?
- This view suggests that morality exists as an independent standard that even God adheres to or recognizes.
- Problem: If this is true, then morality is not grounded in God. There is a standard of goodness external to God, which seems to limit God’s sovereignty or omnipotence. God is no longer the ultimate source of moral value but rather a recognizer or enforcer of a pre-existing moral standard.
In summary, the dilemma forces a difficult choice:
- Either morality is arbitrary and based solely on divine whim.
- Or morality is independent of God, potentially challenging divine sovereignty and the idea that God is the ultimate foundation of all reality, including ethics.
The Euthyphro Dilemma has been debated for centuries by theologians and philosophers. It continues to be a central problem in meta-ethics and the philosophy of religion. This is especially true when discussing the foundations of morality within theistic frameworks. Various responses and attempted resolutions have been proposed. Some suggest it’s a false dilemma, while others argue that God’s nature itself is the standard of goodness. They attempt to bridge the gap in this way.
The Answer
Sound Christian theology typically addresses the Euthyphro Dilemma by asserting that it presents a false dichotomy. From a Reformed perspective, neither horn of the dilemma accurately represents the relationship between God and morality.
The general answer centers on grounding morality directly in God’s eternal, unchanging, and intrinsically good nature or character.
Here’s a breakdown of the reasoning:
- Rejection of Horn 1 (Morality is good because God commands it):
- While Reformed theology strongly emphasizes God’s sovereignty and the authority of His commands (what God commands is indeed binding and defines our duty), it rejects the implication that morality is arbitrary.
- God does not issue commands capriciously. His commands are not arbitrary whims but necessarily flow from His own perfect, holy, just, and loving character. God cannot command something contrary to His nature (e.g., He cannot command evil or make cruelty intrinsically good) because His nature is the very definition of goodness.
- So, while God’s commands establish moral obligation for creatures, they are not arbitrary but are expressions of His inherent goodness.
- Rejection of Horn 2 (God commands something because it is good):
- This horn is rejected because it implies a standard of goodness that exists independently of, or is somehow external or prior to, God.
- Reformed theology insists on God’s absolute sovereignty and aseity (self-existence and self-sufficiency). There is no higher law or standard to which God must conform. God is the ultimate reality and the ultimate standard.
- To place goodness as a standard outside of God would be to subordinate God to something else, which contradicts His nature as the supreme Being.
- The Reformed Synthesis: Morality is Grounded in God’s Nature:
- The solution is that goodness is not external to God, nor is it merely a product of His will detached from His character. Instead, God’s own holy and righteous nature is the ultimate standard of goodness.
- God commands what He commands because He is good. His will is not separate from His nature; His commands are expressions of His perfect character.
- Therefore, morality is objective and non-arbitrary because it is rooted in the unchanging reality of God’s own being. It is also intrinsically connected to God, upholding His sovereignty, because He is that standard.
In summary, the Christian perspective addresses the dilemma. It states that the dilemma presents a false choice. The question “Is it good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?” creates a false dichotomy. According to this view, God inherently commands what aligns with His perfectly good nature. Goodness is not defined by His commands in an arbitrary manner. It is also not a standard outside of Him that He adheres to. Instead, God’s character itself serves as the definition and standard of goodness, and His commands reflect that perfect character.
R-Rated Religion 