Divine Motivation Theory

Ars Disputandi Volume 6 (2006) : 1566–5399 Tim Mawson Divine Motivation Theory By Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004; 428 pp.; hb. £ 40.00, pb. £ 18.99; 0–521–82880–5/0–521–53576–X [1] In Divine Motivation Theory, Linda Zagzebski articulates and defends a motivation-based virtue ethic, one which makes emotion primary and then goes on to make the virtues and emotions of God, specifically the Trinitarian God of Christianity, central. Thus the resultant theory ‘might be called a

divine virtue theory’ (1) but in fact ends up being called ‘Divine Motivation Theory’, the name of the theory thus giving the book its title. Towards the latter half of the work, she provides interlocking accounts of how DM theory, as it has by then been abbreviated, enables us to assess the importance of imitation Dei and the incarnation as well as to solve the seeming paradoxes of perfect goodness; the Euthyphro dilemma; and the Problem of Evil. Finally, there is a discussion of the implications of DM theory for ethical pluralism. [2] Zagzebski first advances arguments for the conclusion that the moral properties held by persons,their acts,and the outcomes of their acts are derivative from a good motive, the most basic component of a virtue, where what I mean by a motive is an emotion that initiates and directs action’ (1). She then proposes ‘a more substantial theory in theistic metaphysics according to which the motives of God are the ontological basis for the value of everything outside of God’ (6). ‘In motivation-based virtue theory, the moral properties of acts, ends, and the outcomes of acts are derivative from the goodness of motives; in DM theory, what makes human motives good is their similarity to divine motives’ (282– 283). There...

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