On justifying ones acceptance of divine command theory. Kai nielsen born 1926 is professor emeritus of philosophy at the university of calgary. If anything, the opposite is partly true, for nothing can be god unless he or it is worthy of worship, and it is our own moral judgment which decided. Kai nielsen is professor of philosophy at the university of calgary and editor of the canadian journal of philosophy and author of reason and practice, contemporary critiques of religion, scepticism and ethics without god. Kai nielsen is one of the best known and most outspoken members of this group. We have not been able to show that reason requires the moral point of view, or that all really rational persons, unhoodwinked by myth or ideology, need not be individual egoists or classical amoralists. In talking about autonomy, democracy, and equality, we have, in effect, already. Christian morality in particularmay have its difficulties, but secular morality, religious apologists argue, has still greater difficulties. A moral case for socialism by kai nielsen by josh moon on.
Ethics without god kai nielsen national library of australia. Philosophy of religion queensborough community college. Kai nielsen is one of canadas most distinguished political philosophers. Contrary to the claim of many defenders of religion, the author argues that morality. Nielsen argues that morality cannot be based on religion, and that there is no evidence to show that nonbelievers despair or lose their sense of identity and purpose. Nielsen has also written about philosophy of religion, and is an advocate of contemporary atheism. His works include atheism and philosophy, does god exist. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. There is rather the international notation of mathematics and logic. For while those of us who are christian theists undoubtedly find in god a source of moral strength and resolve which enables us to live lives that are better than those we should live without him, nevertheless it would seem arrogant and ignorant to claim that those who. I shall argue that the fact that god wills somethingif indeed that is a factcannot be a fundamental criterion for its being morally good or obligatory and thus it cannot be the only criterion or the only adequate criterion for moral goodness or obligation. Robert kunzman 2003 journal of moral education 32 3. Ethics without god a pragmatic consideration even if there is no god.
He specializes in metaphilosophy, ethics, and social and political philosophy. God and postulated entities nielsen 1974 the southern. In short, religious discourse and scientific discourse are part of the same overall. Kai nielsen 1926 is professor emeritus of philosophy at the university of calgary. On morality and religious belief department of philosophy. After receiving his phd from duke university in 1959, kai went on to hold academic and administrative appointments at amherst college, new york university and the university of calgary. Before moving to canada, nielsen taught for many years at new york university nyu.
Nielsen kai ethics without god pemberton books 1973 a very. Aug 25, 2015 kai nielsen on natural law and divine command theory august 25, 2015 jeffery jay lowder patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Jan 11, 2009 kai nielsen s ethics without god addresses the relationship between god and the moral life. Moreland theist and kai nielsen atheist on the questions does god exist. Brian stiltner 1993 journal of religious ethics 21 2. Moreland, ethics without god, exploitation, globalization and justice, naturalism and religion, naturalism without foundations, and why be moral. According to nielsen, morality cannot be based on religion because moral claims cannot. Norman malcolm once observed that, in western academic philosophy, religious belief is commonly regarded as unreasonable and is viewed with condescension or even. He shows that the implications of christian absolutism are more likely to be monstrous than are those of a secular ethic that incorporates an independent principle of justice.
For persons who subscribe to religious morality, the rules are handed down to them from the supreme being, which makes them unbreakable and unquestionable. I highly recommend all of nielsens writings, especially this book, his 2005 edition of atheism and philosophy which briefly reiterates the above argument that is thoroughly elaborated in ethics without god, and naturalism without foundations. God and the grounding of morality by kai nielsen 1. Contrary to the claim of many defenders of religion, the author argues that morality cannot be based on religion. Kai nielsen on natural law and divine command theory. Pure practical reason, even with a good knowledge of the facts, will not take you to morality. Ethics without god by kai nielsen, 1973 online research. Before moving to canada, nielsen taught at new york university nyu.
Rent textbook ethics without god by nielsen, kai 9780879755522. Kai nielsen is professor of philosophy at new york university. Kai nielsen, an atheist philosopher who attempts to defend the viability of ethics without god, in the end admits. Edwards, wallace matson, kai nielsen, and paul kurtz to j. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Moral standards and the application of the term god. A moral case for socialism by kai nielsen by josh moon on prezi. Nielsen argues that morality cannot be based on religion, and tha. But their works did not change the agenda and framework of discus sion the way flews innovative publications did. To remain consistent with their theology and philosophy, most secular humanists take the side of ethical relativism, but it remains difficult to standardize what exactly that entails. Kai nielsen, an atheist philosopher who attempts to defend the viability of ethics without god, in the end admits, we have not been able to show that reason requires the moral point of view, or that all really rational persons, unhoodwinked by myth or ideology, need not.
I highly recommend all of nielsen s writings, especially this book, his 2005 edition of atheism and philosophy which briefly reiterates the above argument that is thoroughly elaborated in ethics without god, and naturalism without foundations. Divine command theory internet encyclopedia of philosophy. The earlier version simply endorsed a consequentialist moral theory directly, but sometime in the 1980s nielsen tried to convert to a rawlsian theory, with mixed success. Life without god popular writings reasonable faith. My principal aim is to show that nielsens charge does not succeed.
Norman malcolm once observed that, in western academic philosophy, religious belief is commonly regarded as unreasonable and is viewed with condescension or even contempt. Kai nielsen is professor emeritus of philosophy at the university of calgary and the author of thirtytwo books and more than four hundred articles. Jan 19, 2018 ethics without god by kai nielsen 2 editions first published in 1973 download daisy. His argument crucially relies upon the assumption that the moral judgments one employs to justify acceptance of a normative theory are more fundamental to ones moral. It is this overall sense of meaning that man so ardently. Kai nielsens ethics without god prometheus, 1990 is a clear treatment of a number of issues regarding religion and morality, written from the perspective of someone who thinks that ethics is selfstanding and has no need of religious input. Nielsen kai ethics without god pemberton books 1973 a very accessible defense from finance finance57 at university of phoenix.
In religious morality, people follow gods commandments without question. Kai nielsen and the nature of theistic ethic papers at. On believing that god exists nielsen 1967 the southern. Nielsen argues that no reality, no force or being or world ground, no matter how powerful or eternal, would be called god unless that reality were taken to be good by the agent making that judgment. A defense of radical egalitarianism 1985, god, scepticism and modernity 1989, and ethics without god 1990. Ethics without god the skeptics bookshelf nielsen, kai on. Buffalo wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. Nielsen wants to argue that while there may be an historical relationship between religion and ethics, there is no theoretical connection between them. In his ethics without god, kai nielsen 1973 argues against the divine command theory and espouses the view that morality cannot be dependent on the will of god.
Prometheus books 1973 abstract this article has no associated abstract. Secular ethics conclusion because secular humanists disagree with each other so often, defining secular ethics as a conceptual whole is problematic. Value theory, miscellaneous categorize this paper reprint years. He is the author of two books soon to appear, the quest for god and ethics without god. Does god exist the debate between theists and atheists by j. Fiona ellis 2009 european journal for philosophy of religion 1 2. A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of most property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the workers. Kai nielsen, god and the basis of morality philpapers. Summary of kai nielsens,linguistic philosophy and the. The author has been a frequent commentator on philosophical issues pertaining to religion and ethics. Moral values exist whether or not a person or culture believes them objective. Kai nielsen department of philosophy university of calgary. In his book, ethics without god, humanist kai nielsen admitted that to ask, is murder evil. To resolve our ethics crisis, we must recognize the character of a good god in whose image valuable humans have been made as the necessary foundation of ethics, human rights, and human dignity.
Without god, kai nielsen claims that this view is grossly mistaken. Ethics without god hardcover may 1, 1973 by kai nielsen author. At first the answer to this question may seem so obvious that even to pose it arouses indignation. There certainly are fundamental difficulties and perhaps even elements of incoherence in christian ethics, but what can a. Nielsen advances an argument for the claim that religion and morality are logically independent. Nielsen argued that the nonexistence of god does not preclude the possibility of there being an objective standard on which to base moral judgments. We have not been able to show that reason requires the moral point of view, or that all really rational persons, unhoodwinked by myth or ideology, need not. See also kai nielsen, on sticking with secular morality, in kai nielsen, god and the grounding of morality ottawa. A response to kai nielsens ethics without god, journal of the american academy of re we use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Thus, ethics may stand independently of any theological considerations.
Ethics without god by kai nielsen 2 editions first published in 1973 download daisy. It is sometimes thought that belief in god is rationally required of human beings, for without such. Nielsen argues that a viable ethical code and lifestyle can be obtained in the absence of a theistic framework. Ethics without god kai nielsen national library of.
Patrick nowell smith holds that not only are ethics based upon philosophical reasoning secular ethics different from and autonomous from ethics based upon religion but philosophical ethics is superior to religious ethics. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. The relation of god and morality in kierkegaard and aquinas. Canadian philosopher kai nielsen published a book in 1972 called ethics without god.
Religion, ethics and the implications for moral education. Kai nielsen kai nielsen is professor emeritus of philosophy at the university of calgary, canada. In his 1964 article, linguistic philosophy and the meaning of life nielsen begins by agreeing with ayer that the purpose of life is the end at which all things aim. After a brief introduction chapter 1, martin tackles objections to morality without religion chapter 2. What we must doso the claim goesis reject all forms of.
Kai nielsen has offered the most forceful version of this objection in his book, ethics without god. Kai nielsens ethics without god addresses the relationship between god and the moral life. Kai nielsen on natural law and divine command theory august 25, 2015 jeffery jay lowder patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. He is a prolific writer, the author of more than 30 books and 400 articles. Kai nielsen is a canadian philosopher who believes that it is possible to have a rationally defensible system of ethics that has no basis. May 26, 2016 kai nielsen has offered the most forceful version of this objection in his book, ethics without god. So far as creatures of the earth are concerned, morality is a uniquely human traita fact that even unbelievers concede.
1319 623 203 369 572 1052 1453 668 1476 37 1309 241 716 739 1336 158 721 384 23 790 1246 81 550 728 527 1320 382 29 188 23 1494