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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that God is the appropriate witness to invoke in an oath

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Invoking God as witness presupposes God's existence, making oaths epistemically circular for those who lack justified theistic belief.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.An oath's binding force depends on the swearer's genuine belief in the witness, so a contested witness yields no additional normative traction.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Kant argued in the Metaphysics of Morals that swearing by God treats the divine as a juridical instrument, violating the respect owed to God.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If invoking God instrumentally for human legal ends is morally impermissible, then God cannot be the appropriate witness without moral contradiction.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.God cannot lie
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Nothing is hidden from God
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A divine witness overcomes both deficiencies of human witnesses: untruthfulness and lack of knowledge
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.