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Full Idea
Why may not the Deity have something of a superior kind, analogous to our moral sense, essential to him?
Gist of Idea
Why may God not have a superior moral sense very similar to ours?
Source
Francis Hutcheson (Treatise 4: The Moral Sense [1728], §I)
Book Ref
'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.313
A Reaction
This is Plato's notion of the gods, as beings who are profoundly wise, and understand all the great moral truths, but are not the actual originators of those truths. The idea that God creates morality actually serves to undermine morality.
| 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] |
| 6256 | Can't the moral sense make mistakes, as the other senses do? [Hutcheson] |
| 6257 | You can't form moral rules without an end, which needs feelings and a moral sense [Hutcheson] |