Christian philosopher George Mavrodes leveled three arguments against the atheist Bertrand Russell and others who think it is possible to establish a secular ethics (without God).  . These arguments are popular arguments theists use against atheistic ethical theories.  Which of the following is not one of the arguments a theist like Mavrodes would use against an atheist like Russell?

John Hick tells the story of an ant who wakes up to find himself understanding truths of socio-biology (evolutionary theory) and finding himself possessed of free will . . . Hick says, “Suppose him to be called upon to immolate himself for the sake of the ant-hill. He feels the powerful pressure of instinct pushing him towards this self-destruction. But he asks himself why he should voluntarily . . . carry out the suicidal programme to which instinct prompts him? Why should he regard the future existence of a million million other ants as more important to him than his own continued existence? . . . Since all that he is and has or ever can have is his own present existence, surely in so far as he is free from the domination of the blind force of instinct he will opt for life–his own life.” . What is the point that theistic philosopher, John Hick, is trying to make?

PERSONAL THEISM & DIVINE COMMAND THEORY:  A popular reason why theists like the late West Point philosopher, Louis Pojman, gave for theists to adopt the DCT (Divine Command Theory) is that it best fits with intuitions about “the omnipotence or sovereignty of God.” (Pojman, 195)   . Many Christians would add that Christians believe what Paul wrote to the church at Colosse is true and it shows up in the early creeds of the church:  “. . . creator of the seen and unseen. . .”  (Colossians, 1:16)  This might include non-physical entities like moral properties.   

Problems for the Personal Theist:  The Eutyphro Dilemma /. The second problem with Divine Command Theory is that it seems to make morality into something arbitrary, since God could change his mind tomorrow and make torture, rape, and incest good and right acts.  This is one of the horns of the Euthyphro Dilemma.    

Varieties of Theism:  Personal Theism, Impersonal Theism, Polytheism (finite theism), etc.  . Most Finite theists (e.g. those who hold the LDS Mormon worldview and who think our God does not have all of the “omni” properties) think logic and mathematics are autonomous from God (like morality according to the autonomy thesis).  Many Christian theologians (like Saint Augustine, William Lane Craig, J.P. Moreland, etc.) think that the best explanation of the existence of immaterial entities (abstract objects) like moral properties, mathematical entities, and the laws of logic is to locate them in the mind of God.  A similar debate is between the Neo-Platonists and Christian Theists when we ask if these non-physical (immaterial) universals exist on their own or if they are located in the mind of a person–God.  

What happens when the muscles in the throat become tense?

PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTONOMY THESIS:  Do our moral intuitions show us that God is necessary in ethics?  Immanuel Kant thought that the idea of God serves as a completion of our ordinary ideas of ethics.  The ideas being an afterlife where we can continue working towards moral perfection AND the idea that there is moral accountability in the afterlife–50% of murderers in the USA get away with it. 

What goals were the clinician and Leo working on during the session?

Identify at least six workplace hazards from the simulated environment.For each hazard, record:Location of the hazard.Description of the hazard.Why the condition is unsafe.Who could be affected.Whether the hazard appears immediate, routine, or potential.You may identify hazards from warehouse, shop, storage, office, or general workplace areas.Copy and paste this chart into the answer box below:Workplace Hazard Recognition ChecklistHazardWork AreaHazard DescriptionUnsafe Act / Unsafe ConditionWho could be affected?Why this hazard is a concern?

You are acting as an entry-level safety professional assigned to evaluate a simulated workplace. Your role is to assist management by identifying hazards, recommending basic controls, completing a Job Safety Analysis, communicating safety information, and evaluating basic safety culture concerns.For this assessment, you are functioning as a beginning safety technician. You are not expected to act as a senior safety manager, industrial hygienist, compliance officer, or engineer. Your work should demonstrate introductory technical competency, professional documentation, and practical workplace safety judgment.Scenario BackgroundMidland Industrial Supply and Services is a small industrial support company that provides warehouse storage, maintenance support, material handling, and light equipment service for regional construction, oilfield, and general industry clients.Over the last several months, the company has experienced several safety concerns:Minor employee injuries.Poor housekeeping in work areas.Inconsistent PPE use.Blocked walkways and cluttered storage areas.Limited hazard reporting.Weak supervisor-to-employee safety communication.Employees performing routine tasks without written Job Safety Analysis documents.New employees receiving inconsistent safety orientation.Workers expressing uncertainty about who to notify when they observe unsafe conditions.Management has asked you to conduct a basic workplace safety review and prepare an entry-level safety technician report.The simulated workplace includes the following areas:Warehouse areaMaterial storage.Pallets.Forklift traffic.Manual lifting.Housekeeping concerns.Maintenance/shop areaHand tools.Electrical cords.Equipment maintenance.Slip/trip/fall hazards.PPE concerns.Storage areaChemical containers.Labels.SDS availability.Flammable or incompatible materials.Spill concerns.Office/support areaErgonomic concerns.Poor workstation setup.Emergency exit awareness.Safety communication postings.General workplace cultureLimited reporting.Informal training.Weak accountability.Inconsistent communication.Central TaskYou must complete a basic occupational safety and health evaluation of the simulated workplace and prepare a final OCCMA portfolio that demonstrates your ability to:Identify workplace hazards.Classify hazards by type.Explain how hazards may cause injury or illness.Recommend basic corrective actions.Complete a Job Safety Analysis.Communicate safety information through a toolbox talk or safety briefing.Evaluate elements of workplace safety culture.Demonstrate introductory OSHA awareness and professional safety responsibility.Prepare organized safety documentation suitable for entry-level workforce practice.Review the Simulated Workplace ScenarioCarefully review the workplace scenario provided by the instructor. This may include photographs, videos, written descriptions, classroom simulation stations, or a case-based workplace narrative.As you review the scenario, look for:Unsafe acts.Unsafe conditions.Poor housekeeping.Missing or incorrect PPE.Improper material storage.Slip, trip, and fall hazards.Ergonomic hazards.Chemical or labeling concerns.Electrical hazards.Weak communication.Weak reporting procedures.Safety culture concerns.Professional VocabularyUse the following terms accurately in your assessment:Accident.Administrative control.Corrective action.Engineering control.Exposure.Hazard.Hazard classification.Hazard recognition.Hierarchy of controls.Injury prevention.Job Safety Analysis.Near miss.OSHA.Personal protective equipment.Physical hazard.Risk.Safety briefing.Safety culture.Safety technician.Toolbox talk.Unsafe act.Unsafe condition.