Uwemabasi Udoh - Short Writing Week 2

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Texas State University *

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1320

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Philosophy

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Apr 27, 2024

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Starting Word Count: 341 Short Writing Assignment - Week 2 Phil 1320 - Fall 22 Instructions: In a separate document, answer all the following questions concerning the week’s readings and course topics. (You may download this sheet as a template and simply enter your responses in the appropriate locations.)  Your responses should be at least 500 words not including the prompts . (That’s 500 words total —not 500 words response per question.) Once complete, submit your responses electronically via Canvas. Your responses are due by 11:59pm, 09/04/22; late submissions will not be accepted . Religion and Morality 1. Rachels presents the Divine Command Theory (DCT) of Morality.  According to this theory, what makes an action morally right ? What makes an action morally wrong ? - This is the ideology that God decrees what is right as well as what is wrong. This is believed because it is generally considered that God is all powerful, meaning he has the ability to deiced what is right and what is wrong. 2. A difficult objection for the DCT is the Euthyphro dilemma. (See Rachels p. 53-56)  i) In your own words, try to explain both “horns” of the dilemma. (1) When considering the Euthyphro Dilemma, there are two pathways that are considered. The first being if an action is right because God is commanding it, and the second being, is God commanding the action because it is right. ii) Explain why each “horn” is unattractive for the defender of the DCT. (1) For the first option, the action is right because God is commanding it, is difficult to defend because you must then consider how much power God has. He would need the power to decide what is right and wrong, and there is not a way to justify the authority he has over morality. Basically, questioning his power to determine what’s right and wrong. (2) For the second option, the reader would have to consider that is considering morality which is separate from his own power. Meaning he is following a certain set of rules that were pre-determined and is now setting commandments based on those rules. iii) Which “horn” do you think that we should opt for? Why? (1) We should opt in to the first option, which can be interpreted as, God has the power to determine what is right and wrong, and he can command us in accordance with that determination. Why? Because he is all knowing, and in religion that is the level of power we associate with GOD. 3. Explain how, according to the Natural Law Theory of Morality, one might argue that sex not directed at making babies is morally wrong. - When looking at and evaluating the Natural Law Theory of Morality and the topic of sex not directed at pregnancy and trying to prove how it could be morally wrong; one would have to consider that Humans were naturally called into existence to mate and reproduce. We have been given the tools and bodily function to reproduce, as that is out purpose on this earth. For those who are
engaging in the mating action, while not aiming at reproduction, are going against the Natural law, so it is morally wrong. 4. On p. 58-59, Rachels discusses several objections to the Natural Law Theory. Do you find any of these objections especially convincing? Why or why not? - One of Rachel’s objections to NLT that stands out to me especially is the first one, stating that not everything that is natural is good. The reason for that is, she provided well detailed examples of instances where something that occurs naturally may not be good. In my opinion, something like death is something that occurs naturally but is not good, both emotionally and physically. Universalism and Relativism 5. Explain the difference between universalism and relativism about morality. - The difference between Universalism and Relativism when it comes to morality is the scope at which a moral law is obeyed and believed by everyone, or if it just for a specific culture. There are several cultures that abide by different rules than others and some believe that the rules they follow in their culutre are different from the universal moral laws. 6. On p. 14, Driver offers a counterexample to simple subjectivism—a form of relativism— which is designed to show that it is implausible.  Explain what her counterexample is, and explain how it creates problems for simple subjectivism. - When providing a counterexample for simple subjectivism, Driver goes into detail about how because a person believes what they’re doing is right does not make it right in the world. Driver touched on Mass killings specifically, and how to some they may consider it right due to their personal beliefs, but it cannot be considered right if a genocidal maniac is carrying it out. 7. On p. 19, Driver argues that the  existence of variation in different culture’s moral practices does not directly support the truth of cultural relativism. Briefly summarize her arguments in the first and second numbered paragraphs.  - Driver touches on two themes in these paragraphs. The first being that there is no evidence that cultural difference allows for different moral laws to be followed. This means that just because you’re in a different culture doesn’t make certain actions right. Next, Driver touches on how when philosophers are going in depth about Universalism vs Relativism, they are not saying that people already follow the laws of Universalism, just that they’re ought to. 8. On p. 20, Driver argues that accepting cultural relativism would have problematic implications for the idea of moral progress. Explain why this is the case.  - This could hinder moral progress because there are thousands of different cultures in the world, some man made, and some that existed for millennia, each with different beliefs. So if we all followed the idea of relativism, that would mean there would be no order and everyone would be free to do as they please, as long as they claimed a different culture or ideology.
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