Editing Ethics (section)

==== Others ====
{{main|Divine command theory|Contractualism|Discourse ethics}}
Divine command theory says that God is the source of morality. It states that moral laws are divine commands and that to act morally is to obey and follow [[God's will]]. While all divine command theorists agree that morality depends on God, there are disagreements about the precise content of the divine commands, and theorists belonging to different religions tend to propose different moral laws.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Austin|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Murphy|2019|loc=Lead section}} }}</ref> For example, Christian and Jewish divine command theorists may argue that the [[Ten Commandments]] express God's will<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Miller|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=87hQ2AjcttEC&pg=PA13 13]}} | {{harvnb|Flynn|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pl3bToUqdAIC&pg=PA167 167]}} }}</ref> while Muslims may reserve this role for the teachings of the [[Quran]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Flynn|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pl3bToUqdAIC&pg=PA167 167]}} | {{harvnb|Myers|Noebel|2015|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=hzeACgAAQBAJ&pg=PA241 241]}} }}</ref> 

Contractualists reject the reference to God as the source of morality and argue instead that morality is based on an explicit or implicit [[social contract]] between humans. They state that actual or hypothetical [[consent]] to this contract is the source of moral norms and duties. To determine which duties people have, contractualists often rely on a [[thought experiment]] about what rational people under ideal circumstances would agree on. For example, if they would agree that people should not lie then there is a moral obligation to refrain from lying. Because it relies on consent, contractualism is often understood as a patient-centered form of deontology.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Alexander|Moore|2021|loc=§ 2.3 Contractualist Deontological Theories}} | {{harvnb|Sullivan|2001|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1vkgWX7GRr0C&pg=PA118 118]}} | {{harvnb|Ashford|Mulgan|2018|loc=Lead section}} }}</ref>{{efn|Some ethicists state that contractualism is not a normative ethical theory but a metaethical theory because of its emphasis on how moral norms are justified.<ref>{{harvnb|Alexander|Moore|2021|loc=§ 2.3 Contractualist Deontological Theories}}</ref>}} Famous social contract theorists include [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[John Locke]], [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], and [[John Rawls]].<ref>{{harvnb|Friend|loc=Lead section}}</ref>

[[File:JuergenHabermas.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of Jürgen Habermas|According to [[discourse ethics]], as formulated by [[Jürgen Habermas]], moral norms are justified by [[Communicative rationality|rational discourse]] within society. ]]

Discourse ethics also focuses on social agreement on moral norms but says that this agreement is based on [[communicative rationality]]. It aims to arrive at moral norms for pluralistic modern societies that encompass a diversity of viewpoints. A universal moral norm is seen as valid if all rational discourse participants do or would approve. This way, morality is not imposed by a single moral authority but arises from the moral discourse within society. This discourse should aim to establish an [[ideal speech situation]] to ensure fairness and inclusivity. In particular, this means that discourse participants are [[Freedom of speech|free to voice]] their different opinions without coercion but are at the same time required to justify them using rational argumentation.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Chakraborti|2023|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=f5jXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA39 39]}} | {{harvnb|Metselaar|Widdershoven|2016|pp=[https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-09483-0_145 895–896]}} | {{harvnb|Finlayson|Rees|2023|loc=§ 3.3 The Principles of Discourse Ethics and Their Justification}} }}</ref>