Living Philosophy.. An Introduction to Moral Thought

This introductory text on moral philosophy examines the relationship between ethical systems and religious belief, particularly the question of whether morality requires divine grounding. Billington presents a balanced survey of major ethical theories while addressing the persistent debate over God's role in moral foundations.

The work engages with the classical Euthyphro dilemma, exploring whether moral values derive their authority from divine command or exist independently of God. Billington analyzes how theistic ethics grounds moral obligations in God's will or nature, examining Divine Command Theory and its various refinements. He considers objections raised by secular philosophers who argue that basing ethics on God creates arbitrariness or circularity problems. The text evaluates whether theism provides necessary metaphysical support for objective moral values or whether naturalistic accounts can adequately explain moral phenomena.

Billington's analytical approach dissects arguments from both religious and secular perspectives. He examines how Christian thinkers from Augustine to contemporary philosophers have defended divine foundations for ethics, while also presenting critiques from Enlightenment rationalists through modern atheistic philosophers. The work explores whether evolutionary ethics, social contract theory, or other naturalistic frameworks can account for moral objectivity without invoking God. Particular attention is given to the is-ought problem and how different philosophical traditions attempt to bridge the gap between descriptive facts and prescriptive values.

The text situates these debates within broader philosophical contexts, showing how questions about God and morality intersect with metaphysics, epistemology, and human nature. Billington traces historical developments from ancient Greek philosophy through medieval synthesis to modern secular ethics, demonstrating how changing views of God have influenced moral theory. He examines practical implications, considering how different answers to the God question affect approaches to specific ethical issues and moral education.

While maintaining scholarly neutrality, Billington illuminates why the God-morality relationship remains philosophically significant. The work serves as an accessible entry point for students encountering these fundamental questions, presenting complex arguments clearly without sacrificing philosophical rigor. By mapping the conceptual terrain fairly, the text enables readers to understand what is at stake in debates over divine foundations for ethics and why philosophers continue to disagree about whether morality ultimately requires God.