Ethics: The Source of Morality
"If God does not exist, everything is permitted." — Dostoevsky Without a transcendent anchor, "Human Rights" are just "Human Preferences."
1. The Subjectivity Problem
If morality is just a "Social Contract" (what we agree on), then the Nazis weren't wrong; they just lost the war. If they had won, their consensus would be the "Moral Truth" today.
The Relativist Trap:
2. The Euthyphro Dilemma Solved
Plato's famous trap: "Is it good because God loves it, or does God love it because it is good?"
He doesn't "invent" morality arbitrarily. And He doesn't "obey" an external moral law. Honesty is good because God is Truth (Al-Haqq). Justice is good because God is Just (Al-Adl). Morality is an expression of Fundamental Reality.
3. The Prevention Model (Sadd al-Dhara'i)
Liberal Ethics focuses on Punishing Outcomes (Theft, Assault). Islamic Ethics focuses on Blocking Pathways (Interest, Intoxication, Immodesty).
| Feature | Liberal Ethics (Reactive) | Islamic Ethics (Preventative) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | The Harm Principle (Wait until damage happens). | Sadd al-Dhara'i (Block the road to damage). |
| Alcohol Example | Drink safely. Punish drunk drivers. | Forbid the substance entirely to prevent the risk. |
| Sexual Ethics | Consent is the only rule. | Sanctity of Lineage and Family Structure. |
References & Further Reading
- AFTER VIRTUEWhy modern ethics is incoherent.
- Refining the CharactersClassical Islamic virtue ethics.
- The impossibility of Moral Obligation without GodPhilosophical critique of secular duty.