The Rise of Voluntarism
- What is Theological Voluntarism? How did it contribute to the “moral crisis of the Modern Era”?
Theological Voluntarism
Theological voluntarism is a philosophical and theological position that emphasizes the primacy of the will of God over any inherent rationality or natural order. According to voluntarism, God’s will is the ultimate basis for what is right or wrong, rather than any inherent moral principles or rational considerations.
Contribution to the Moral Crisis of the Modern Era
The rise of theological voluntarism contributed to the “moral crisis of the Modern Era” in several ways:
- Shift from Natural Law to Divine Command: Voluntarism challenged the traditional view of natural law, which held that moral principles are inherent in the rational order of the universe and accessible to human reason. Instead, voluntarism asserted that moral norms are ultimately determined by God’s arbitrary will.
- Subjectivity and Relativism: By emphasizing God’s absolute sovereignty in determining morality, voluntarism undermined the idea of objective moral truths accessible through reason. This led to a more subjective and relativistic view of ethics, where moral standards could vary depending on divine commands rather than universal principles…
Theological Voluntarism
Theological voluntarism is a philosophical and theological position that emphasizes the primacy of the will of God over any inherent rationality or natural order. According to voluntarism, God’s will is the ultimate basis for what is right or wrong, rather than any inherent moral principles or rational considerations.
Contribution to the Moral Crisis of the Modern Era
The rise of theological voluntarism contributed to the “moral crisis of the Modern Era” in several ways:
- Shift from Natural Law to Divine Command: Voluntarism challenged the traditional view of natural law, which held that moral principles are inherent in the rational order of the universe and accessible to human reason. Instead, voluntarism asserted that moral norms are ultimately determined by God’s arbitrary will.
- Subjectivity and Relativism: By emphasizing God’s absolute sovereignty in determining morality, voluntarism undermined the idea of objective moral truths accessible through reason. This led to a more subjective and relativistic view of ethics, where moral standards could vary depending on divine commands rather than universal principles…
