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Single Idea 6249

[filed under theme 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / d. God decrees morality ]

Full Idea

To call the laws of the supreme Deity good or holy or just, if these be constituted by laws, or the will of a superior, must be an insignificant tautology, amounting to no more than 'God wills what he wills' or 'His will is conformable to his will'.

Gist of Idea

If goodness is constituted by God's will, it is a tautology to say God's will is good

Source

Francis Hutcheson (Treatise 2: Virtue or Moral Good [1725], §VII.V)

Book Ref

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.296

A Reaction

This argues not only against God as the source of morality, but also against any rules, such as those of the Categorical Imperative. Why should I follow the Categorical Imperative? What has value must dictate the rules. Is obedience the highest value?

The 20 ideas from Francis Hutcheson

6238 We approve of actions by a superior moral sense [Hutcheson]
6239 We dislike a traitor, even if they give us great benefit [Hutcheson]
6240 The moral sense is not an innate idea, but an ability to approve or disapprove in a disinterested way [Hutcheson]
6241 Contempt of danger is just madness if it is not in some worthy cause [Hutcheson]
6242 We cannot choose our moral feelings, otherwise bribery could affect them [Hutcheson]
6243 As death approaches, why do we still care about family, friends or country? [Hutcheson]
6244 Human nature seems incapable of universal malice, except what results from self-love [Hutcheson]
6245 That action is best, which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest number [Hutcheson]
6246 My action is not made good by a good effect, if I did not foresee and intend it [Hutcheson]
6247 Everyone feels uneasy when seeing others in pain, unless the others are evil [Hutcheson]
6248 Reason is too slow and doubtful to guide all actions, which need external and moral senses [Hutcheson]
6249 If goodness is constituted by God's will, it is a tautology to say God's will is good [Hutcheson]
6250 We say God is good if we think everything he does aims at the happiness of his creatures [Hutcheson]
6251 The loss of perfect rights causes misery, but the loss of imperfect rights reduces social good [Hutcheson]
6252 Happiness is a pleasant sensation, or continued state of such sensations [Hutcheson]
6253 Reason is our power of finding out true propositions [Hutcheson]
6254 We are asked to follow God's ends because he is our benefactor, but why must we do that? [Hutcheson]
6255 Why may God not have a superior moral sense very similar to ours? [Hutcheson]
6257 You can't form moral rules without an end, which needs feelings and a moral sense [Hutcheson]
6256 Can't the moral sense make mistakes, as the other senses do? [Hutcheson]