An essay on divine authority

by Murphy, Mark C.

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Title Statements

Full title :An essay on divine authority / Mark C. Murphy.

Summary

In the first book wholly concerned with divine authority, Mark C. Murphy explores the extent of God's rule over created rational beings. The author challenges the view-widely supported by theists and nontheists alike-that if God exists, then humans must be bound by an obligation of obedience to this being. He demonstrates that this view, the "authority thesis," cannot be sustained by any of the arguments routinely advanced on its behalf, including those drawn from perfect being theology, metaethical theory, normative principles, and even Scripture and tradition. After exposing the inadequacies of the various arguments for the authority thesis, he develops his own solution to the problem of whether, and to what extent, God is authoritative. For Murphy, divine authority is a contingent matter: while created rational beings have decisive reason to subject themselves to the divine rule, they are under divine authority only insofar as they have chosen to allow God's decisions to take the place of their own in their practical reasoning. The author formulates and defends his arguments for this view, and notes its implications for understanding the distinctiveness of Christian ethics

Edition Statements

Publication Date:2002.

Publication Statements

Publisher(s):Cornell University Press
Place of Publication:Ithaca, N.Y
Language:eng
Publication Date:2002.

The Physical Object

Description:1 online resource (x, 198 pages)

Edition Identifiers

ISBN:9781501732010, 1501732013
oclc:on1042220182
LC Classification:BT88
Dewey Decimal:231.7

What divine authority is -- The compliance thesis -- Divine authority and divine perfection -- Divine command metaethics and the authority thesis -- Moral arguments for the authority thesis -- The authority thesis and orthodox Christianity -- A solution to the problem of divine authority.

Subjects

Authority -- Religious aspects Autorität Autorité -- Aspect religieux Christentum Dieu -- Christianisme Gezag God God (Christianity) Philosophical theology PHILOSOPHY -- Ethics & Moral Philosophy Théologie philosophique