Introduction to Metaethics
The Euthyphro dilemma is a classic problem in metaethics originally posed by Plato in his dialogue Euthyphro, which asks: “Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?” This dilemma highlights a fundamental question in ethics: is morality based on divine command, or is it independent of divine will?
One possible interpretation of the dilemma is that if morality is based on divine command, then there is no objective standard of right and wrong. This is because what is moral or immoral would depend on the whims of the gods, and there would be no way to determine whether their commands were truly moral. On the other hand, if morality is independent of divine will, then the gods themselves would be subject to a moral law that is higher than them, which would imply that morality is not based on divine command.
The Euthyphro dilemma has been the subject of much debate in philosophy, and several solutions have been proposed. Some philosophers argue that the dilemma is a false one, and that there is a third option: that the gods love the pious because it is good. Others argue that morality is not based on divine command, but on reason or some other non-theistic basis.
Despite the debates about the Euthyphro dilemma, it remains an important and thought-provoking problem for anyone interested in the foundations of morality.
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