The Euthyphro Dilemma

The Euthyphro Dilemma, stemming from a dialogue by Plato, questions whether something is good because God commands it, or if God commands it because it is inherently good. If good actions are determined by God's will, morality seems arbitrary; if God follows an independent standard of goodness, then that standard exists apart from God. This dilemma challenges the foundations of divine command theory and invites deeper reflection on the nature of morality, ethics, and the relationship between God and moral standards. It raises important questions about the nature of goodness and the source of our moral beliefs.