Philosophy of Religion Research

Zagzebski’s Theory of Divine Motivation about the Relation of Religion and Morality

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 PhD Student of Philosophy of Religion, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)

2 Professor at the Department of Islamic Philosophy and Kalam, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

Abstract

Divine Motivation theory is an ethical theory with a theological foundation, attempting to explain the relation between religion and morality in the context of Christian theology with emphasizing on neo-Aristotelian and motivation-based ethics. This theory that is presented by Linda Zagzebski, provides a new form of virtue ethics that God's motives, especially that of love, are foundations of moral life and these motivational states are considered ontologically and explanatorily the basis for all moral properties and values. This theory uses five steps to advance its destination. In the first step, this theory proves the personhood of God. In the second step, it argues that God has perfect virtues and motives. In the third step, it shows that God's motive in the Creation is motive of love that is the central and fundamental divine motive. In the fourth step, it discusses the doctrine of imitatio Dei and focuses on the problems of this doctrine. In the last step, it attempts to link this doctrine to the doctrine of the incarnation to resolve its problems.

Keywords

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Philosophy of Religion Research
Volume 12, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
November 2015
Pages 25-51