Matthew Flannagan and Jason Thibodeau Discuss the Euthyphro Dilemma
On Saturday (9/22) I was privileged to join Matthew Flannagan for a dialogue about the Euthyphro dilemma. Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity hosted the dialogue and livestreamed it from the Capturing Christianity YouTube channel. I did my best to explain why I think that there are some compelling Euthyphro-inspired objections to divine command theory, and … Matthew Flannagan and Jason Thibodeau Discuss the Euthyphro Dilemma
Thibodeau on the Real Atheology podcast
I recently appeared as a guest on an episode of the Real Atheology podcast. The co-hosts, Ben Watkins and John Lopilato, and I talked about the Euthyphro dilemma and its implications for divine command theory. You can listen to the episode below. Ben and John are great hosts and I want to thank them for … Thibodeau on the Real Atheology podcast
Do our reasons depend on our desires?
NOTE: This post assumes an understanding of much of the terminology that I explain in my post, “On Reasons and What They Do?” In particular, this post uses the terms ‘reason,’ ‘objective,’ and ‘subjective’ in accordance with the explanations that appear in that article. Further, there are other important matters (such what it means for a reason to … Do our reasons depend on our desires?
Richard Dawkins and Moral Realism
Christian apologists who love to substitute quote-mining for actual argumentation are fond of quotations like the following, in order to conclude that atheism somehow undermines morality. In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, and other people are going to get lucky; and you won’t find … Richard Dawkins and Moral Realism
Geisler’s Five Ways – Part 19: The Whole Enchilada
In part 11 of this series of posts I reviewed the overall structure of Norman Geisler’s case for the existence of God, the case that he presented, along with coauthor Ronald Brooks, in When Skeptics Ask (hereafter: WSA). In this present post, I will once again review the overall structure of Geisler’s case, and will summarize … Geisler’s Five Ways – Part 19: The Whole Enchilada
A Problem for the Problem of Evil?
William Lane Craig once gave a talk entitled, “Top 10 Worst Objections to the Kalam Cosmological Argument.” Along the same lines, maybe someday I should a talk entitled, “Top 10 Worst Objections to the Argument from Evil.” But, for now, I want to focus on just one of the top ten objections, the idea that … A Problem for the Problem of Evil?
What could God’s commands do for morality?
Consider the following version of divine command metaethics (DCM): Our moral obligations are constituted by divine commands. In particular, F is morally obligatory = God has commanded that we F F is morally wrong = God has commanded that we not F F is morally permissible = God has neither commanded that we F nor … What could God’s commands do for morality?
Why the moral argument fails
Of all the arguments for the existence of God, there is one argument (or one style of argument) that I have never had any sympathy with and never understood why anyone has any sympathy with, and that is the moral argument. It seems to me and has pretty much always seemed to me (at least … Why the moral argument fails
God’s nature does not make his commands non-arbitrary
Many modern defenders of the divine command theory frequently claim that God’s commands are not arbitrary because they flow from his essential nature. Their argument is bad. That a commander issues consistent commands based on his/her own character does not mean that those commands are not arbitrary. Whether a command is arbitrary depends on whether … God’s nature does not make his commands non-arbitrary
INDEX: Geisler’s Five Ways
Here is my multi-part critical examination of Dr. Norman Geisler’s case for the existence of God in his book When Skeptics Ask (coauthored with Ronald Brooks): Geisler’s First Argument Geisler’s Five Ways Geisler’s Five Ways – Part 2: How Many Arguments for God? Geisler’s Five Ways – Part 3: Just ONE Argument Geisler’s Five Ways … INDEX: Geisler’s Five Ways