Weekly Discussion #5: Religion and Morality

This Discussion involves an interactive website which asks you a series of questions about Morality and Religion. The text of the experiment is a little irreverent, but does a nice job in helping you understand the Euthyphro Dilemma. The experiment is meant to determine how consistent your beliefs about morality and religion are. If you have lots of inconsistencies according to the cite, do not be offended. This is typically the case.

• Better understand the logic of the Euthyphro Dilemma
• Reflect carefully on the relationship between religion and morality.
• Gain perspective on how your classmates think about morality and religion.

Assignment Instructions

Go to Philosophy Experiments website and take the interactive experiment called “Talking With God: The Euthyphro Dilemma.” Read the first page, then click continue. Answer each question by clicking on the relevant circle. Pick the answer that most closely matches what you believe. Click “continue” at the end of each page. Carefully read the analysis at the end. “Tensions” refer to APPARENT inconsistencies in your view. It may be that these are not actually contradictions and you can explain why if you wish in your post. “Stringency” refers to how much your conception of God matches that traditionally held by members of religions in the Abrahamic tradition (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

For your initial post write two well developed paragraphs about your results and your reactions to the experiment. Were there any “tensions” in your view? Did you come down in favor of divine command theory or the view that the good is independent of God’s will? Did the experiment cause you to re-think your view. Why or why not? (due Thursday)

You have worked at this organization for over 10 years and feel totally unappreciated. You have not received a promotion or pay raise in over 5 years, and you work long days and typically take work home with you to stay caught up. Your supervisor—who you despise because of the way he treats you and because he does not authorize any promotion or raise, whereas other departments do—climbs the staircase in front of your cubicle every day to get to his office. This particular supervisor has been with the organization for over 30 years and can essentially retire at any time, but he chooses to continue to work. You happen to notice that a portion of the staircase is rotting out and you are fearful of stepping on it yourself. You don’t particularly like your supervisor, so you don’t report it to your maintenance manager.

• Do you believe you acted unethically by not reporting the rotting stairs?  Why or why not?  
• How would you handle the situation if you were the owner of the organization and found out that your employee failed to do anything or report the rotting stairs? 

Do you feel your actions or inactions warrant any disciplinary action? Explain. As an individual, do you feel that the scenario described could be or should be defended with something like “I was owed this raise and promotion because of my ability and time with the organization”? Explain.

• Compose your findings into a Word document (850–1,100 words), and be sure to cite your sources.