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Divine command theory and psychopathy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2018

ERIK J. WIELENBERG
ERIK J. WIELENBERG*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana 46135, USA
*
e-mail: ewielenberg@depauw.edu
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Abstract

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.

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Type
Original Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 56 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 542 - 557
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018

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