Video - Divine Will or Intrinsic Good? Unraveling the Euthyphro Dilemma

Is something good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good? This is the essence of the Euthyphro Dilemma, a timeless question posed by Plato. If something is good merely because God commands it, then morality seems arbitrary—whatever God decrees, no matter how unjust it appears, would be deemed good. On the other hand, if God commands something because it is good, then goodness exists independently of God, suggesting that moral standards are external even to divine authority. This dilemma has puzzled philosophers for centuries. Thinkers like Immanuel Kant argued for morality based on rationality and autonomy, while others like Søren Kierkegaard emphasized faith and divine command. In resolving this, one might consider that perhaps both perspectives have merit. God’s commands could be seen as aligned with an intrinsic moral order, suggesting a harmonious relationship between divine will and objective goodness. Ultimately, this question pushes us to ponder the very foundations of our ethical beliefs, inviting us to explore the intricate dance between divinity and morality.