‘The
unexamined
life is not
worth living.’
Socrates
MORALITY IN THE MODERN
WORLD
Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral Values

Introduction (pp. 1-7)


Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)



Moral values are grounded in religious belief
The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition and/or
reason
Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)



The Euthyphro Dilemma ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the gods command
them or do the gods command certain actions because they are ‘good’?’
Act and Rule utilitarianism
Principle of the greatest good
Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)


Categorical imperative
Universal maxim
Introduction

Welcome to Higher RMPS, let’s get started!

Today you’ll be taking your first steps in the Morality in
the Modern World unit.

We expect you to take your own notes as you’re led
through the PowerPoint. You can nearly find the
PowerPoint on the school website.

If you see this symbol
it means the slide
contains key notes (stuff you really need to pay
attention to).
The Relationship
between Religion
and Moral Values
Introduction
Introduction
 The
Euthyphro Dilemma
‘Are actions ‘good’ simply
because the gods command
them or do the gods command
certain actions because they are
‘good’?’
Socrates: a biography





Born 469BCE in Athens, Greece.
No recorded works yet one of history’s most influential
philosophers.
We know of Socrates through the writings of his
student Plato.
Often described as rotund and ugly, he was known for
talking to anyone and engaging them in philosophical
debate.
His commitment to philosophy meant that personal
hygiene came second place- he was often barefoot and
dirty and had very few possessions.
Socrates: a biography
Socrates
aim was not to
tell others the truth – he
often claimed to be
ignorant of it himself –
but rather to help them
discover it for themselves
as best they could.
Socrates and Euthyphro
We
are going to be learning about a very famous
argument in moral thinking between Socrates
and Euthyphro. We know about it from Plato’s
writing in The Last Days of Socrates.
It
all kicked off when Socrates asked Euthyphro
what he thought was ‘right’ (or ‘holy’ which was
one way of describing it in those days).
Why Euthyphro?

Euthyphro was taking his father to court for the
mistreatment of a slave (so he must have been a moral
dude).

Socrates was on trial for the ‘crime’ of stirring up trouble
in the city’s youth – he could face the death penalty for this.

Socrates was going to be executed for doing something
‘wrong’ so wanted to find out what ‘wrong’ actually meant.
The Euthyphro Dilemma

During the debate Euthyphro suggests that what
is right is what the gods would be pleased with.

Socrates ends the argument by asking
Euthyphro if the gods command what is
right because it is right or if it is right only
because the gods command it.
The Dilemma (or horns)
 Should
religious people do things their
god(s) commands them to do even if they
otherwise think what they’re being asked to
do is wrong?
 Or,
should they doubt that the command
has come from their god(s) if they believe
that the command is wrong?
Euthyphro’s Problem

Suppose Euthyphro was hanging about and hears a
godlike voice telling him to kill the next person who
passes him. He is convince he has heard the voice of
god(s) and he has been brought up always to obey the
commands of god(s), because they only command
what’s right. Should he kill?

Even if he thinks it is wrong (which he does) surely
god(s) wouldn’t command it if it was wrong?
Discussion

If there was such a
thing as god(s) do
you think
he/she/it/they
would command you
to do something
which was wrong?
Morality and Killing
Is killing right or wrong?
Would god(s) command it?
 This
depends on who you ask…
 Some
people say that ‘no killing’ is an absolute rule
– it never wavers and always applies.
 Other people say that ‘no killing’ depends on lots of
things and so it is a relative rule – it depends on the
situation.
Time Out: Think, Pair and Share
 Is
there anything
which you think is
always wrong no
matter what?
 Or,
is what’s right
and wrong related to
the situation?
Some possible responses!





It is wrong in theory to kill, but sometimes the situation
demands it.
It is wrong in theory to kill and so it is wrong to do it
no matter what the situation.
It is theoretically right to kill in certain situations and so
right to actually do so.
It is theoretically right to kill in certain situations but is
actually wrong to do so.
NB: this also applies to those who have viewpoints
independent from religious beliefs.
Discussion

Is it more
important to do
the right thing if
you believe in an
afterlife?
Divine Command Theory

Divine Command Theory: you should follow all
commands you are given from god(s) without
question.

Euthyphro’s dilemma raised the issue of how god(s) are
linked to right and wrong.
Most religions today think their god(s) are
perfectly good meaning that they always
do what is good and expect the same from
followers (often with use of the carrot and
stick).
So how do religious people ‘hear’
from their god(s)?






Directly as a voice/vision or a sense of presence.
Indirectly through the interpretation of something that
happened.
An answer to a prayer.
The study of sacred texts.
The teachings of a member of the faith group.
Historical teachings.
And can these ways be trusted?
No easy answer

For religious people finding out what’s ‘right’
and ‘wrong’ is a complex matter. Some choose
to cross-check a few features of their faith
together to find answers.

What religious people do with what they think
god(s) is telling them is related to two further
key ideas in moral-decision making we’ll be
learning about: Autonomy and Heteronomy.
Time Out: Think, Pair and Share
 What
makes
something good?
Outcome?
Intention?
Something else?
The Last Days of Socrates

Socrates never found a
solution to the Euthyphro
dilemma and what makes
something ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

The Athens court could not
explain what ‘right’ or
‘wrong’ were either, but
nevertheless Socrates was
sentenced to death.
Socrates: a biography

The trial and execution of Socrates, dramatized
by Plato, has inspired many thinkers and artists
through the centuries.

Considered to be a dangerous and subversive
influence, he was eventually arrested and
charged with refusing to acknowledge the gods
of the state, introducing new ones and
corrupting the young.
Socrates: a biography

Socrates was condemned
to death by drinking
hemlock, he refused a
chance to escape and,
surrounded by his friends,
embraced death with great
dignity.

Socrates died in 399BCE,
Athens.
The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787).
Plato
 Following
the execution of
Socrates Plato left Athens in
disgust. He travelled in Italy,
Sicily and Egypt before
returning to Athens to found
his Academy in 377BCE.

The Academy was the Western’s
world’s first university. Many
great intellectuals were schooled
there, including Aristotle.
Check Your Notes

Here’s that reggae tune I was telling you about
and the PowerPoint again.

Check your notes and make sure they are
accurate.

Take a note of any questions you want to ask
me.
Introduction
 The
Euthyphro Dilemma
‘Are actions ‘good’ simply
because the gods command
them or do the gods command
certain actions because they are
‘good’?’
Socrates: a biography





Born 469BCE in Athens, Greece.
No recorded works yet one of history’s most influential
philosophers.
We know of Socrates through the writings of his
student Plato.
Often described as rotund and ugly, he was known for
talking to anyone and engaging them in philosophical
debate.
His commitment to philosophy meant that personal
hygiene came second place- he was often barefoot and
dirty and had very few possessions.
Socrates: a biography
Socrates
aim was not to
tell others the truth – he
often claimed to be
ignorant of it himself –
but rather to help them
discover it for themselves
as best they could.
Socrates and Euthyphro
We
are going to be learning about a very famous
argument in moral thinking between Socrates
and Euthyphro. We know about it from Plato’s
writing in The Last Days of Socrates.
It
all kicked off when Socrates asked Euthyphro
what he thought was ‘right’ (or ‘holy’ which was
one way of describing it in those days).
Why Euthyphro?

Euthyphro was taking his father to court for the
mistreatment of a slave (so he must have been a moral
dude).

Socrates was on trial for the ‘crime’ of stirring up
trouble in the city’s youth – he could face the death
penalty for this.

Socrates was going to be executed for doing something
‘wrong’ so wanted to find out what ‘wrong’ actually
meant.
The Euthyphro Dilemma

During the debate Euthyphro suggests that what
is right is what the gods would be pleased with.

Socrates ends the argument by asking
Euthyphro if the gods command what is
right because it is right or if it is right only
because the gods command it.
The Dilemma (or horns)
 Should
religious people do things their
god(s) commands them to do even if they
otherwise think what they’re being asked to
do is wrong?
 Or,
should they doubt that the command
has come from their god(s) if they believe
that the command is wrong?
Euthyphro’s Problem

Suppose Euthyphro was hanging about and hears a
godlike voice telling him to kill the next person who
passes him. He is convince he has heard the voice of
god(s) and he has been brought up always to obey the
commands of god(s), because they only command
what’s right. Should he kill?

Even if he thinks it is wrong (which he does) surely
god(s) wouldn’t command it if it was wrong?
Morality and Killing
Is killing right or wrong?
Would god(s) command it?
 This
depends on who you ask…
 Some
people say that ‘no killing’ is an absolute rule
– it never wavers and always applies.
 Other people say that ‘no killing’ depends on lots of
things and so it is a relative rule – it depends on the
situation.
Some possible responses!





It is wrong in theory to kill, but sometimes the situation
demands it.
It is wrong in theory to kill and so it is wrong to do it
no matter what the situation.
It is theoretically right to kill in certain situations and so
right to actually do so.
It is theoretically right to kill in certain situations but is
actually wrong to do so.
NB: this also applies to those who have viewpoints
independent from religious beliefs.
Divine Command Theory

Divine Command Theory: you should follow all
commands you are given from god(s) without
question.

Euthyphro’s dilemma raised the issue of how god(s) are
linked to right and wrong.
Most religions today think their god(s) are
perfectly good meaning that they always
do what is good and expect the same from
followers (often with use of the carrot and
stick).
So how do religious people ‘hear’
from their god(s)?






Directly as a voice/vision or a sense of presence.
Indirectly through the interpretation of something that
happened.
An answer to a prayer.
The study of sacred texts.
The teachings of a member of the faith group.
Historical teachings.
And can these ways be trusted?
No easy answer

For religious people finding out what’s ‘right’
and ‘wrong’ is a complex matter. Some choose
to cross-check a few features of their faith
together to find answers.

What religious people do with what they think
god(s) is telling them is related to two further
key ideas in moral-decision making we’ll be
learning about: Autonomy and Heteronomy.
The Last Days of Socrates

Socrates never found a
solution to the Euthyphro
dilemma and what makes
something ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

The Athens court could not
explain what ‘right’ or
‘wrong’ were either, but
nevertheless Socrates was
sentenced to death.
Socrates: a biography

The trial and execution of Socrates, dramatized
by Plato, has inspired many thinkers and artists
through the centuries.

Considered to be a dangerous and subversive
influence, he was eventually arrested and
charged with refusing to acknowledge the gods
of the state, introducing new ones and
corrupting the young.
Socrates: a biography

Socrates was condemned
to death by drinking
hemlock, he refused a
chance to escape and,
surrounded by his friends,
embraced death with great
dignity.

Socrates died in 399BCE,
Athens.
The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787).
Plato

Following the execution of Socrates
Plato left Athens in disgust. He
travelled in Italy, Sicily and Egypt
before returning to Athens to found
his Academy in 377BCE.

The Academy was the Western’s
world’s first university. Many great
intellectuals were schooled there,
including Aristotle.
‘The
unexamined
life is not
worth living.’
Socrates
MORALITY IN THE MODERN
WORLD
Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral Values

Introduction (pp. 1-7)


Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)



Moral values are grounded in religious belief
The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition and/or
reason
Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)



The Euthyphro Dilemma ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the gods command
them or do the gods command certain actions because they are ‘good’?’
Act and Rule utilitarianism
Principle of the greatest good
Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)


Categorical imperative
Universal maxim