Why is something wrong? reflections on Euthyphro

Is murder wrong because it is already wrong or because God commands it to be wrong? This dilemma, regularly referred to during ethical discussions as the Euthyphro dilemma creates many important theological and philosophical questions. A key question revolves around the power of God, for if something is wrong because it is wrong, then it appears that something is ‘greater’ than God and hence challenges the power of God (for how can he be God if he defers to something else?) Who declared that act ‘good’ if it wasn’t God?

The Euthyphro dilemma can be satisfactorily resolved because it is a false dilemma. In an enormously helpful book on ethics, Andrew Cameron in Joined up Life suggests that God creates a moral framework within his creation which is consistent with his character, ‘the world has some imprints of God’s goodness. God has somehow structured aspects of his own good character into the way things work’ (p153). Hence God doesn’t ‘declare’ something good, something is good because it has been created consistently with his good character. He helpfully uses the illustration of Genesis where God ‘saw’ that creation was good (Genesis 1:31) This wasn’t a declaration of goodness, it was a recognition.

So to answer the question – why is something wrong, because it’s wrong or because God commands it? The answer is both. God has commanded what is consistent with his creation, which are both consistent with his character.