The Logic of Moral Discourse

This monograph presents a comprehensive examination of moral language and its relationship to religious claims, particularly those concerning divine command ethics. Edwards develops a linguistic analysis that challenges the coherence of theological ethics while defending the autonomy of moral discourse. His central argument demonstrates that moral statements possess a logic independent of religious foundations, directly confronting theological naturalism and divine command theory.

Edwards begins by analyzing the logical structure of moral judgments, arguing that ethical statements function through their own internal grammar rather than requiring external metaphysical grounding. He systematically examines how moral terms acquire meaning through their use in human practices and social contexts, not through correspondence to supernatural realities. This approach places him firmly within the ordinary language philosophy tradition, drawing on the methods of J.L. Austin and Gilbert Ryle while applying them specifically to ethical discourse.

The work's most significant contribution lies in its critique of theological ethics. Edwards argues that attempts to ground morality in divine commands face insurmountable logical difficulties. He demonstrates that the statement "God commands X, therefore X is good" either reduces to tautology or assumes an independent standard of goodness that renders the divine command superfluous. This argument, while echoing elements of the Euthyphro dilemma, receives a distinctively linguistic treatment that exposes the conceptual confusion inherent in theological naturalism.

Edwards further examines the pragmatic functions of moral discourse, showing how ethical language serves human purposes of recommendation, evaluation, and social coordination without requiring metaphysical anchoring. He addresses counterarguments from religious philosophers who claim that without God, morality becomes merely subjective or conventional. His response demonstrates that intersubjective agreement and rational discourse provide sufficient foundation for ethical objectivity.

The monograph's influence extends beyond philosophy of religion into meta-ethics generally. Edwards's analysis helped establish the independence of moral philosophy from theology in mid-20th century Anglo-American thought. His arguments remain relevant to contemporary debates about moral realism, the relationship between religion and ethics, and the nature of normative discourse. By showing that moral language operates effectively without theological premises, Edwards provides crucial support for secular approaches to ethics while challenging religious thinkers to reconsider the supposed dependence of morality on divine authority.