Exam 5: God and Morality Steven M.Cahn

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The dilemma that Socrates raises in the Euthyphro is whether something is pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious. This raises the question of whether something is morally good because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is morally good.

This dilemma poses a damning problem for the divine command theorist because it challenges the idea that morality is dependent on the commands of a divine being. If something is only good because a god commands it, then morality becomes arbitrary and dependent on the whims of the gods. This raises the question of whether something could be considered morally good if a god were to command something that is typically considered morally wrong.

On the other hand, if the gods command something because it is already morally good, then it suggests that there is a standard of morality that exists independently of the gods. This challenges the idea that morality is solely dependent on divine commands.

In conclusion, the dilemma raised by Socrates in the Euthyphro poses a significant challenge for the divine command theorist as it calls into question the foundation of morality and the relationship between the gods and moral goodness. It suggests that morality may not be solely dependent on divine commands, and raises the possibility of an independent standard of morality.