Question can religious be consistent with philosophical ethics?

Accepted:
April 6, 2016

Comments

I am not entirely clear about

I am not entirely clear about the question, exactly. If "philosophical ethics"means ethics (either ethical theories or specific ethical positions) that are supported by philosophical theories or reasons, then many such theories and reasons may be consistent with different religious beliefs and practices. For example, Christian philosophers have adopted or worked with utilitarianism (some of the first utilitarians in modern philosophy were theists, pre-dating Jeremy Bentham), Kantians; they have advocated natural law, intuitionism, moral particularism, and so on. You might have in mind, however, ethical positions that are advocated by particular kinds of philosophers such as those who are deeply committed to secularism. In such a case, a Christian philosopher like John Hare (currently at Yale University) who defends a divine command theory of ethics (defended also by C. Stephen Evans, Baylor University) is not at all going to be compatible with the moral theory of non-theists (atheists or agnostics), though there may be massive agreement by all the philosophers in identifying basic goods and ills; they may share the same convictions about which acts are just or unjust but diverge in their explanation of why such acts are just or unjust.
There will also be divergence between philosophers who are observant religious practitioners and those who are secular in terms of their views on specific religious duties. A secularist will not recognize the duty to pray or go on pilgrimage, though they may agree on the importance of giving generously to the poor (so they might agree with one of the five pillars of Islam).

Question can religious be consistent with philosophical ethics? Accepted:April 6, 2016

Question can religious be consistent with philosophical ethics?

Accepted:
April 6, 2016