Chapter 4

An inner sense of right and wrong that guides moral judgment and ethical behavior.

Excessive pride or arrogance, often leading to moral failure or punishment in ethical and literary contexts.

Ethical theory emphasizing that morality is determined by God’s will or commands rather than human reason.

Moral corruption or inherent sinfulness in human nature; humans naturally inclined to wrongdoing.

The view that morality is determined by reason and rational understanding rather than by divine will.

Morality aligns with God’s commands, but acts are still morally good or bad independently of God’s will.

Morality is defined entirely by God’s commands; without God’s will, nothing is morally right or wrong.

The belief that God has ultimate authority over creation, including moral law and human actions.

Principles distinguishing right from wrong behavior; standards guiding ethical action.

A philosophical question: “Is something good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?” It challenges the relationship between God and morality.

The view that ethics are rooted in God’s rational nature; morality can be understood by human intellect because it aligns with divine reason.

The view that God’s will is the central element of morality; God can command anything, and morality depends on God’s choice.

Morality is arbitrary because it depends solely on the whim of God; what God commands may conflict with human moral intuition.

The view that morality is determined solely by God’s commands; an action is right because God commands it, and wrong because God forbids it.

A morally challenging situation where obedience to God’s command seems to conflict with human moral intuition, testing faith and moral obedience.

Examples include: Sacrifice of Isaac, Plundering Egyptians, Israelites commanded to destroy Canaanite inhabitants, Hosea marrying a prostitute.

The view that God’s commands are rooted in divine reason or wisdom; morality can be understood through human intellect because it aligns with God’s rational nature.

The view that God’s will is the central element in morality; God can command anything regardless of human reasoning or intellect.

Thomas Aquinas, John Wesley, C. S. Lewis.

John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, Martin Luther, John Calvin.

God can command anything whatsoever; morality is determined solely by God’s will, unconstrained by God’s love or rationality.

God’s commands are constrained by God’s loving nature; while God could command harmful actions, God’s goodness prevents this, making morality non-arbitrary.

Philosophical problem asking: Are actions right because God commands them (arbitrary)? Or does God command actions because they are right (morality independent of God)?

Jesus’ teachings, like loving enemies and radical ethical conversion, form the basis of Christian moral obligations, showing that morality is rooted in faith and obedience.