ABSTRACT
The essence of divine command theory is the claim that God’s command is the ultimate source of moral obligation. Furthermore being in accordance with the divine commands is the prerequisite for something to be classified as morally good. In the end, Scotus interprets any factual—ontological and moral—world-order as willed by God and thus contingent while still being internally consistent within itself. In order to claim consistency, formal principles must be underlying every act of the divine will. Ockham interprets the biblical scandals, which can be seen as test cases for a divine command theory, in this framework.16 Adultery and theft cease to be adultery and theft in a morally significant sense as soon as they have been decreed as obligatory rules by divine intervention. The accentuation of the obligatory character of morality as it is prevalent in divine command theory highlights the intrinsic value of moral action.
