Discussion Post: Introduction to Ethics
Follow the web links to Bob Dylan's song "Highway 61 Revisited" for both the song and then the lyrics. Dylan begins with a retelling of a story from the Bible to fit the song. The other song that actually quotes from Plato's Euthyphro is listed in question two "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Kanye West.
In light of that song and our course readings so far, answer any two of the following questions:
• What connection does that Bible story and Dylan's song have with ethics and the so-called "Divine Command Theory" as espoused by Euthyphro? If we take the song, as some do with the first stanza especially, as a war protest song, how does the interpretation of the Abe story in the song change? Here is the Dylan song "Highway 61 Revisited" by Karen O (click on small arrow after "link"):
And here is the story of Abraham called by God to kill his own son (Dylan's first line in his song refers to this story):
Here are Dylan's lyrics in the first stanza of "Highway 61 Revisited" that relate to our topic for this week:
o Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
o Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
o God said, "No" Abe say, "What?"
o God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
o The next time you see me comin', you better run"
o Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
o God said, "Out on Highway 61"
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.