The Relation of Divine Command Theory to Natural Law and Virtue Ethics

Abstract

This chapter argues that two prominent approaches to ethics that are often thought to be rivals of a divine command ethic are actually complementary to a divine command ethic. In particular, a divine command ethics presupposes a natural law ethic, or some comparable account of the good. A natural law ethic, such as that developed by Mark Murphy, provides a good foundation for a divine command theory by providing an account of the good, and a divine command theory helps a natural law ethic give a convincing explanation of moral obligations. A divine command theory is also consistent with reasonable forms of virtue ethics. It is not consistent with extreme forms of moral particularism, but these views are not essential to virtue ethics. A virtue ethics can be linked to a divine command theory in that the virtues can be understood to provide the telos or goal of moral obligations.