What is the Argument from Ethics?

The Argument from Ethics begins with the premise that objective moral values exist. This means that there are moral truths that are true for all people, regardless of their culture, beliefs, or personal preferences.

The Argument from Ethics concludes that if objective moral values exist, then God must exist. This is because objective moral values require a foundation in something that is eternal and unchanging. God is the only being that can provide this foundation.

The main objection to the Argument from Ethics is that objective moral values do not exist. If objective moral values do not exist, then there is no need to posit the existence of God to explain them.

Thomas Aquinas is the most famous philosopher associated with the Argument from Ethics. He developed the argument in his Summa Theologica.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the nature of God is divine command theory.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the nature of human reason is natural law theory.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the consequences of actions is utilitarianism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the intentions of the agent is deontology.

The term used to describe the idea that there are no objective moral values is moral nihilism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the emotions is emotivism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the will of the majority is majoritarianism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the traditions of a particular culture is cultural relativism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the survival of the fittest is social Darwinism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the intuition of the individual is intuitionism.

The term used to describe the idea that objective moral values are based on the experience of pleasure and pain is hedonism.