Abstract

This work is a philosophical defence of the tenability of divine command theory as an acceptable Christian account of morality. The theory states that morality is founded upon God's commands. It has been associated particularly with Duns Scotus and William of Ockham. What God commands, man has a moral duty to do; what He forbids, man ought to avoid; and man's duties arise only because God commands or forbids certain things. There are various ways of understanding what constitutes a divine command and this work focuses on the claim that revealed, scriptural commands are the foundation of morality.