Socrates

Is an action right because the Gods approve of it, or do the Gods approve of an action because such an action is right?

Well my dear friends, if we were to believe that an action is right solely because the gods approve of it, then we must ask ourselves who decides what the gods approve of? Are the gods simply arbitrary in their decisions, or do they have a rational basis for their approvals? And if they do have a rational basis, then shouldn't we be seeking to understand that basis ourselves, rather than blindly following the gods without any comprehension of what we are doing? On the other hand, if we believe that the gods approve of an action because it is right, then we run into the question of what makes an action right or wrong. Is it the gods themselves who define right and wrong, or do they simply recognize it when they see it? And if they do recognize it when they see it, then wouldn't it make sense for us, as mere mortals, to strive to understand what right and wrong are for ourselves, so that we can act in accordance with those principles even in the absence of divine guidance? These are complex and nuanced questions, my dear friends, but rest assured that we will continue to debate them until we arrive at some sort of understanding!"