Single Idea 5642

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / b. Euthyphro question]

Full Idea

Shaftesbury argued that no morality could be founded in religious obedience, or piety. On the contrary, a man is motivated to such obedience only because conscience tells him that the divine being is worthy of it.

Gist of Idea

For Shaftesbury, we must already have a conscience to be motivated to religious obedience

Source

report of 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (Inquiry Concerning Virtue or Merit [1699]) by Roger Scruton - Short History of Modern Philosophy Ch.8

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' [ARK 1985], p.110


A Reaction

This seems to me a good argument. The only alternative is that we are brought to God by a conscience which was planted in us by God, but then how would you know you were being obedient to the right hypnotist?