Divine command theory and psychopathy

I advance a novel challenge for Divine Command Theory based on the existence of psychopaths. The challenge, in a nutshell, is that Divine Command Theory has the implausible implication that psychopaths have no moral obligations and hence their evil acts, no matter how evil, are morally permissible....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wielenberg, Erik J. 1972- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Cambridge Univ. Press [2020]
In: Religious studies
Year: 2020, Volume: 56, Issue: 4, Pages: 542-557
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Will of God / Moral act / Psychopathology
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
NBC Doctrine of God
NBE Anthropology
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
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Description
Summary:I advance a novel challenge for Divine Command Theory based on the existence of psychopaths. The challenge, in a nutshell, is that Divine Command Theory has the implausible implication that psychopaths have no moral obligations and hence their evil acts, no matter how evil, are morally permissible. After explaining this argument, I respond to three objections to it and then critically examine the prospect that Divine Command Theorists might bite the bullet and accept that psychopaths can do no wrong. I conclude that the Psychopathy Objection constitutes a serious and novel challenge for Divine Command Theory.
ISSN:1469-901X
Contains:Enthalten in: Religious studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0034412518000781