Divine Command Morality and Jewish Tradition

Given the religious appeal of divine command theories of morality (DCM), and given that these theories are found in both Christianity and Islam, we could expect DCM to be represented in Judaism, too. In this essay, however, we show that hardly any echoes of support for this thesis can be found in Je...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Sagi, Avi (Author) ; Statman, Daniel (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 1995
In: Journal of religious ethics
Year: 1995, Volume: 23, Issue: 1, Pages: 39-67
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:Given the religious appeal of divine command theories of morality (DCM), and given that these theories are found in both Christianity and Islam, we could expect DCM to be represented in Judaism, too. In this essay, however, we show that hardly any echoes of support for this thesis can be found in Jewish texts. We analyze texts that appear to support DCM and show they do not. We then present a number of sources clearly opposed to DCM. Finally, we offer a theory to explain the absence of DCM in Judaism, claiming that the rational character of "Halakha", as well as the moral and rational character of God, does not provide suitable ground for the growth of DCM theses.
ISSN:1467-9795
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religious ethics