Arbitrariness of morality
What Arbitrariness of morality means in Philosophy A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Arbitrariness of morality
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Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Arbitrariness of morality in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
The appearance that morality is arbitrary if things are good only because God commands them, since any cruelty could have been commanded and would then count as good.
Topics that use Arbitrariness of morality
- The concept and nature of 'God' (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- God's relationship to time
- Omnipotence
- Responses grounding goodness in God's nature
- The meaning(s) of the attributes
- The source of moral goodness
- Timelessness (eternity)
- Arguments for incoherence
- Divine command theory
Using Arbitrariness of morality in the exam
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