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    If that standard of goodness is conceptually prior to and... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The Euthyphro dilemma does not defeat Adams' Divine Command Theory

    If that standard of goodness is conceptually prior to and independent of God, then moral facts are grounded in something other than God, undermining the theistic foundation Adams intends to provide.

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    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.If goodness exists prior to God's nature, God cannot be the ultimate foundation of morality, making theistic grounding incomplete.
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    • 2.Standards independent of God suggest moral truths are discovered, not created, implying a Platonic realm outside divine control.
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    • 3.Adams's theory aims to make God the ultimate source of value; external standards contradict this foundational goal.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.A standard being conceptually prior doesn't entail metaphysical independence; God's nature could constitute goodness necessarily.
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    • 2.Divine nature might ground standards without being temporally or logically prior—goodness and God could be co-fundamental.
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    • 3.The argument conflates 'independent of God' with 'conceptually prior,' but logical priority doesn't require metaphysical autonomy.
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    Key Terms

    Adams(as the philosopher whose theory is being discussed)
    Robert Adams is a philosopher who developed a theory of morality based on God's character—basically, he argues that what's good is whatever aligns with God's nature and desires.
    Moral facts
    Facts about goodness, reasons, and obligations; normative facts about what matters.
    conceptually prior to(as used in philosophy generally)
    Comes first in terms of logical or definitional order; the concept that must be understood before or as the foundation for another concept.
    grounded in(whether distinctness or identity is explained by intrinsic features)
    To be explained by or to have its reason or basis in something else—like how a tree being wet is grounded in (explained by) recent rain.
    theistic foundation(describing the religious framework Adams is trying to establish)
    A basis for explaining things that relies on God's existence—in this case, the idea that morality depends on God.

    Connections

    2 topics

    All sources support it1 linkedDivine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    A standard being conceptually prior doesn't entail metaphysical independence; Go...Adams's theory aims to make God the ultimate source of value; external standards...Divine nature might ground standards without being temporally or logically prior...If goodness exists prior to God's nature, God cannot be the ultimate foundation ...
    +3 moreShow less
    Standards independent of God suggest moral truths are discovered, not created, i...The Euthyphro dilemma does not defeat Adams' Divine Command Theory

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    The argument conflates 'independent of God' with 'conceptually prior,' but logic...