Evolutionary Philosophy
  • Home
  • Worldview
    • Epistemology
    • Metaphysics
    • Logic
    • Ethics
    • Politics
    • Aesthetics
  • Applied
    • Know Thyself
    • 10 Tenets
    • Survival of the Fittest Philosophers >
      • Ancient Philosophy (Pre 450 CE)
      • Medieval Philosophy (450-1600 CE)
      • Modern Philosophy (1600-1920 CE)
      • Contemporary Philosophy (Post 1920 CE)
    • 100 Thought Experiments
    • Elsewhere
  • Fiction
    • Draining the Swamp >
      • Further Q&A
    • Short Stories
    • The Vitanauts
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
    • Purpose
    • My Evolution
    • Evolution 101
    • Philosophy 101

Thought Experiment 58: Divine Command

7/18/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
In the wake of yet more religiously-motivated murders, I don't expect this week's thought experiment to reach and change the minds of any potential perpetrators, but I know that anyone reading this blog must interact with people of faith and perhaps they can use this story to sow seeds of reasonable doubt where there is currently unwarranted certainty.

---------------------------------------------------
     And the Lord spake unto the philosopher, "I am the Lord they God, and I command thee to sacrifice thy only son."
     The philosopher replied, "There's something not right here. Your commandments say, "Thou shalt not kill."
     "The Lord giveth the rules and the Lord taketh away," replied God.
     "But how do I know you are God?" insisted the philosopher. "Perhaps you are the devil trying to fool me?"
     "You must have faith," replied God.
     "Faith — or insanity? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks? Or maybe you're testing me in a cunning way. You want to see if I have so little moral fibre that at the command of a deep voice booming through the clouds, I commit infanticide."
     "Me almighty!" exclaimed the Lord. "What you're saying is that it is reasonable for you, a mere mortal, to refuse to do what I, the Lord thy God, commands."
     "I guess so," said the philosopher, "and you've given me no good reasons to change my mind."

Source: Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard, 1843.

Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 172.
---------------------------------------------------

What do you think? Can people of faith be taught to doubt like this philosopher speaking to "God"?
1 Comment
Steve Willey
7/19/2016 03:34:23 am

This was a harder question in bearlier times. But this century, with worldwide communications, travel, and trade, most become aware of the very different religions, where "God" gives different versions of commands (though there is some commonality). Now people have a choice of which religion and god to attend. That makes it clear that the claimed godly authority is not universal and absolute. We choose our god, and thereby our commandments, or perhaps choose none.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to Help Shape This Evolution

    SUBSCRIBE

    RSS Feed


    Blog Philosophy

    This is where ideas mate to form new and better ones. Please share yours respectfully...or they will suffer the fate of extinction!


    Archives

    January 2023
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012


    Click to set custom HTML
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.