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Divine Command Theory: Defending Danaher's Epistemological Objection

Meyer, Christopher S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1563898336772504

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Philosophy (Arts and Sciences).
This thesis defend John Danaher's version of the Epistemological Objection to Divine Command Theory (DCT). This objection asserts that DCT fails as a metaethical theory of moral obligation due to the fact that there is a group of persons, reasonable nonbelievers, who have knowledge of moral obligations while lacking the knowledge of divine commands required in DCT. The first part of this thesis focuses on this objection and explains how it applies to DCT. An underlying assumption of Danaher's defense is the existence of reasonable nonbelievers, persons who do not violate epistemic duties in their nonbelief. The latter portion of this thesis defends the existence of such persons by considering and responding to the challenge that all nonbelievers violate at least one epistemic duty since their nonbelief is the product of the culture in which they are immersed, as opposed to rationally informed inquiry. In response to this challenge, it is shown that the existence of reasonable nonbelievers is the default position and that the burden of proof is on those claiming all nonbelief is unreasonable. It is also noted that the high number and wide range of cases that qualify for nonbelief render the prospect of showing that all nonbelief is unreasonable rather bleak. Having shown that the cultural bias challenge is left wanting and that we should accept the existence of reasonable nonbelievers, the thesis concludes the epistemological objection stands as a serious challenge to divine command theory.
James Petrik, Dr. (Advisor)
Jack Bender, Dr. (Committee Member)
Alfred Lent, Dr. (Committee Member)
50 p.
Philosophy
Divine Command Theory; Epistemological Objection

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Meyer, C. S. (2019). Divine Command Theory: Defending Danaher's Epistemological Objection [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1563898336772504

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Meyer, Christopher. Divine Command Theory: Defending Danaher's Epistemological Objection. 2019. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1563898336772504.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Meyer, Christopher. "Divine Command Theory: Defending Danaher's Epistemological Objection." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1563898336772504

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.