Is Theism Compatible With Moral Error Theory?

European Journal for Philosophy of Religion 14 (3):1-20 (2022)
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Abstract

This paper considers whether theism is compatible with moral error theory. This issue is neglected, perhaps because it is widely assumed that these views are incompatible. I argue that this is mistaken. In so doing, I articulate the best argument for thinking that theism and moral error theory are incompatible. According to it, these views are incompatible because theism entails that God is morally good, and moral error theory entails that God is not. I reject this argument. Since it is the best argument for thinking that theism and moral error theory are incompatible, I conclude that these views are compatible: one can coherently accept both views.

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Citations of this work

Theism and Secular Modality.Noah Gordon - 2023 - Dissertation, University of Southern California
Moral Normativity: Naturalism vs. Theism.Ferhat Yöney - 2023 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 93 (1):3-23.

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References found in this work

Moral Error Theory: History, Critique, Defence.Jonas Olson - 2014 - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The existence of God.Richard Swinburne - 1979 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Unbelievable Errors: An Error Theory About All Normative Judgments.Bart Streumer - 2017 - Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
God and Moral Obligation.C. Stephen Evans - 2013 - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
An Essay on Divine Authority.Mark C. Murphy - 2018 - Cornell University Press.

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