Epistemological Independence of Ethics and its Ontological Dependence on Religion

Abstract

A significant issue among philosophical issues is to determine the relationship between ethics and religion. Traditionally it was believed that ethics is based on religion and there could not be any ethical system without religion. With the increasing critics against religion in the modern era the attempts for demonstrating an ethical system independent from religion has been increase as well. The proponents of ethical autonomy put forward considerable critics against ethics based on religion which is difficult to ignore. The aim in this paper is to deal with relationship between ethics and religion. The writer while approving the significant challenge offered against ethics based on religion defend a theory displaying two pillars for ethics. According to this theory epistemic and psychological aspect of ethics is distinguished. The writer will display that the epistemic aspect of ethics is independent from religion while the ontological aspect of ethics is depended on religion.

Keywords

• ethics
• religion
• epistemic
• ontological