Component 3: an Introduction to Religion and Ethics

COMPONENT 3: AN INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION AND ETHICS Key terms & Key questions from this component

A self-assessment of how well you know and understand the key terms and how well you feel you could answer the key questions Component 1 Ethics: Knowledge and Understanding

Complete this chart as you revise this component. Use pencil. When you become more familiar with the terms, you can rub out your earlier evaluations of your K & U.

THEME 1 : ETHICAL THOUGHT Key Term Definition My Knowledge (what it is) My Understanding (what it means) This term comes from the Greek word ethikos, ethics which in its root form (ethos) means custom or K 1 2 3 4 5 habit. For the Greeks it referred to the appropriate or customary way to behave in U 1 2 3 4 5 society. In modern times it refers to a branch of moral philosophy that aims to determine the meaning of right and wrong Conforming to the accepted standards of social ethical or professional behaviour K 1 2 3 4 5

U 1 2 3 4 5

American philosopher born in 1937, he created a modified version of the ‘Divine Command K 1 2 3 4 5 Adams, Robert Theory’. U 1 2 3 4 5

Criticism of the Divine Command Theory that basically states that if God commands morality K 1 2 3 4 5 arbitrariness problem then morality becomes purely arbitrary. U 1 2 3 4 5

Ancient Greek Philosopher (384 BC – 322 BC), who was taught by Plato at the Academy. K 1 2 3 4 5 Aristotle Eventually split from the philosophy of Plato and created his own philosophical ideas that have U 1 2 3 4 5 heavily influenced western philosophy. Jesus gave humanity the eight Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the Gospel K 1 2 3 4 5 Beatitudes of Matthew. U 1 2 3 4 5

Meta-ethical theory that believes that morality is dependent upon God. Moral goodness occurs K 1 2 3 4 5 Divine Command when moral agents are obedient to God’s Theory commands. U 1 2 3 4 5

Normative ethic that claims moral agents should do what is in their own self-interest. Therefore, K 1 2 3 4 5 Ethical Egoism an action is morally right if it maximises one’s self-interest. U 1 2 3 4 5

Dilemma originally found in Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro. Basically the dilemma asks is K 1 2 3 4 5 Euthyphro dilemma something good only because God commands it or because it is good in itself and God just U 1 2 3 4 5 enforces it. A type of virtue distinguished by Aristotle. K 1 2 3 4 5 moral virtues According to Aristotle moral virtues need to practised and can be achieved by following the U 1 2 3 4 5 ‘mean’ Basically states that the Divine Command Theory is unrealistic given the contradictorily K 1 2 3 4 5 pluralism objection nature of God’s commands as claimed by different religions. U 1 2 3 4 5

Psychological school of thought that believes people can only act in their own self-interest. K 1 2 3 4 5 Psychological Egoism U 1 2 3 4 5

Max Stirner (born Johann Schmidt in 1806) was a German philosopher. He was one of the K 1 2 3 4 5 Stirner, Max forerunners of egoism, nihilism and anarchism. Stirner’s main work is ‘The Ego and Its Own’. U 1 2 3 4 5

A type of ethical theory which seeks to define what kind of behaviour leads to the K 1 2 3 4 5 Virtue development of personal or communal qualities of goodness or excellence, rather than whether U 1 2 3 4 5 an act is good or bad in itself. THEME 2 : AQUINAS' NATURAL LAW Key Term Definition My Knowledge (what it is) My Understanding (what it means) A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy, normally before the foetus can survive K 1 2 3 4 5 abortion independently. U 1 2 3 4 5

The application of ethical theories to practical situations and moral dilemmas. K 1 2 3 4 5 applied ethics U 1 2 3 4 5

Thomas Aquinas, 13th century Dominican priest (1224-1274), commonly regarded as the most K 1 2 3 4 5 influential philosopher and theologian of the Aquinas Roman Catholic Church. Famous works include U 1 2 3 4 5 Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles. Developed the ethical theory known as Natural Law or Natural Moral Law. There are four cardinal virtues identified by reason: prudence, justice, temperance and K 1 2 3 4 5 fortitude. Known as ‘cardinal’ virtues because cardinal virtues the Latin term ‘cardo’ means ‘hinge’. They are U 1 2 3 4 5 believed to form the fundamental basis of a moral life and were terms used both by Aristotle and Aquinas. Selfless, unconditional, and voluntary loving- kindness for others in response to God’s love. K 1 2 3 4 5 One of the three theological virtues outlined in charity 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and U 1 2 3 4 5 hope. Charity is a virtue included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory. He believed that developing such virtues brought people closer to God’s ideal of human nature. Literally ‘a good death’. It describes a medical procedure by which either a person terminates K 1 2 3 4 5 his or her own life because of extreme pain or euthanasia suffering, or the life of another person is either U 1 2 3 4 5 allowed to come to an end or is brought to an end with the assistance of others, because of a critical medical condition. Steadfastness in belief in God; one of the three theological virtues outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 K 1 2 3 4 5 faith by St Paul along with hope and charity; included by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory. U 1 2 3 4 5

Sometimes referred to as courage; to show endurance, and to possess the ability to K 1 2 3 4 5 fortitude confront fear and uncertainty or intimidation in order to achieve one’s goal; one of the four U 1 2 3 4 5 cardinal virtues (see above). Aquinas believed that there are four types of related law. These are: eternal law - God creates K 1 2 3 4 5 four levels of law all that exists with a purpose and everything acts according to God’s plan; divine law - divine U 1 2 3 4 5 law is God’s eternal law given through scripture; natural law - some aspects of God’s eternal law are also accessible via natural law which we can discover through our ability to reason, enabling us to distinguish between right and wrong. Aquinas believed that we cannot grasp all the details of eternal law until God reveals them to us upon our death; human law - society’s legal systems that should be derived from natural and divine law. An expectation of and desire of receiving; refraining from despair; believing in the K 1 2 3 4 5 hope possibility of eternal life in heaven with God. One of the three theological virtues outlined in U 1 2 3 4 5 1 Corinthians 13 by St Paul along with faith and charity Terms used by Aquinas as part of his Natural Law theory to distinguish between the motive K 1 2 3 4 5 for an act and the act itself. The interior act is interior/exterior acts the motive/intention for performing an act. The U 1 2 3 4 5 exterior act is the actual act itself. In order for an act to be truly good, both the interior and exterior acts must be good. The treatment of people with equality and fairness, both generally and before the law. K 1 2 3 4 5 justice U 1 2 3 4 5

Ethical theory based on the concept of a final cause or purpose, which determines K 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Law everything’s natural use or goal; a body of universal moral truths deduced from reason and U 1 2 3 4 5 experience; a view associated with Aristotle and developed by Aquinas. The five main purposes of humankind’s existence (given by God) according to Aquinas’ K 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Law theory: to worship God, to live in an ordered society, to reproduce, to learn and to U 1 2 3 4 5 primary precepts defend the innocent. These are the absolute and deontological principles found within Aquinas’ Natural Law theory. These principles should not be broken, regardless of the consequences. The ability to judge rationally between actions and to recognise the most appropriate actions K 1 2 3 4 5 prudence at a given time. One of the four cardinal virtues. U 1 2 3 4 5

Aquinas believed that we should use our ability to reason to distinguish between what he called K 1 2 3 4 5 real and apparent goods. A real good is a something that helps us to become nearer to U 1 2 3 4 5 real/apparent goods the ideal human nature that God had planned for us e.g. being a sociable person. An apparent good is a vice that takes us further away from the ideal human nature that God had planned e.g. taking drugs or alcohol in an attempt to become more sociable. Aquinas believed that no one knowingly pursues evil by choosing an apparent good, but sometimes we don’t use our ability to reason properly and this error occurs. The three virtues of faith, hope and charity revealed or disclosed through Scripture (St Paul K 1 2 3 4 5 in 1 Corinthians 13). Christian theology teaches revealed virtues that these virtues differ from the cardinal U 1 2 3 4 5 virtues in that they cannot be obtained by human effort. A person can only receive them by being infused through divine grace into the person. Also often called theological virtues because they are directed by God. These are derived from the primary precepts. For example, the principle ‘to live in an ordered K 1 2 3 4 5 society’ leads to rules such as ‘return property to those from whom it was stolen.’ However, U 1 2 3 4 5 secondary precepts the secondary precepts have to be interpreted in the context of the situation and there is some flexibility in extreme cases. For example, if someone owned a gun that had be stolen from them, but intends to kill others with it upon its return then you would not return it as this is the rational thing to do. Self-control or restraint, abstention, and moderation. The ability to control instincts and K 1 2 3 4 5 temperance desires in order to be considered honourable. One of the four cardinal virtues. U 1 2 3 4 5

THEME 3 : SITUATION ETHICS Key Term Definition My Knowledge (what it is) My Understanding (what it means) The ‘selfless love’ principle which is the Agape foundation of Situation Ethics developed by K 1 2 3 4 5 Joseph Fletcher. U 1 2 3 4 5

The idea that people are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented K 1 2 3 4 5 by religious authorities. This approach is antinomianism completely situationist. There are no rules, laws U 1 2 3 4 5 or principles which must be followed: the situation itself will provide the solution, which can be found through intuition. A person’s moral sense of right and wrong; the part of a person that judges the morality of K 1 2 3 4 5 conscience one's own actions. U 1 2 3 4 5

One of the two sets of guiding principles of Situation Ethics (the other being the six Four Working Principles fundamental principles) devised by Fletcher in K 1 2 3 4 5 order to help decide what the most loving action in any given situation would be. They are U 1 2 3 4 5 personalism, positivism, pragmatism and relativism. Joseph Fletcher, American professor (1905- 1991) who formalised the theory known as Situation Ethics in his book Situation Ethics: The New Morality (1966). Fletcher was a leading academic involved in topics ranging from abortion to cloning. He was ordained as an K 1 2 3 4 5 Fletcher, Joseph Episcopalian priest, but later identified himself as an atheist. Fletcher said that we should U 1 2 3 4 5 always use the principle of agape (selfless love) and apply it to the situation we are dealing with. He said we should always act lovingly and that no two situations are identical. His theory was both relativistic and consequentialist. A person being in a romantic and intimate (sometimes sexual) relationship with someone K 1 2 3 4 5 homosexual of the same sex. relationship U 1 2 3 4 5

An ethical approach based on prescribed rules by which people can make every moral decision. K 1 2 3 4 5 legalism Legalism is often linked to the idea that obedience to a code of religious law is necessary U 1 2 3 4 5 in order for a person to gain eternal life. The belief that the possession of an arsenal of nuclear weapons defends a state from attack by K 1 2 3 4 5 nuclear deterrence another state, merely on the basis of a threat to deploy such weapons. U 1 2 3 4 5

One of Fletcher’s four working principles: people, not laws, must be put first in any given K 1 2 3 4 5 situation, and one must aim to achieve the most personalism loving outcome. For example, a woman stealing U 1 2 3 4 5 food to feed her starving children would be acceptable according to this principle. This is the practice and acceptance of intimate polyamorous relationships that are not exclusive with respect K 1 2 3 4 5 relationship to other sexual relationships, with knowledge and consent of everyone involved. U 1 2 3 4 5

One of Fletcher’s four working principles: it means that one must accept that acting in the K 1 2 3 4 5 most loving way is the right thing to do without positivism any rational proof that it is. Love provides U 1 2 3 4 5 justification, not proof, for an ethical decision. Agape is morally right without question. One of Fletcher’s four working principles, it means one must evaluate the situation and K 1 2 3 4 5 pragmatism perform whatever action is practical/workable, motivated by love. U 1 2 3 4 5

The view that there are no universal moral norms, but that an action should be judged right K 1 2 3 4 5 relativism or wrong depending on the social, cultural and individual circumstances in each situation; one U 1 2 3 4 5 of Fletcher’s four working principles. One of the two sets of guiding principles of Situation Ethics (the other being the four working principles) devised by Fletcher in order to help decide what the most loving action in Six Fundamental any given situation would be. These six K 1 2 3 4 5 Principles fundamental principles are: only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love, nothing else at U 1 2 3 4 5 all; only the principle of love provides a reasonable base by which to make judgements of right and wrong; love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else; love wills the good of others, regardless of feelings; a loving end justifies the means; love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.

THEME 4 : UTILITARIANISM Key Term Definition My Knowledge (what it is) My Understanding (what it means) A form of Utilitarianism associated with Bentham that treats each moral situation as K 1 2 3 4 5 Act Utilitarianism unique and each ‘act’ is deemed to be right or wrong based on the consequences it produces. U 1 2 3 4 5 Bentham presumed that pleasure should be sought and pain avoided. Animal research is the use of non-human animal animals in experiments that seek to control the K 1 2 3 4 5 experimentation variables that affect the biological system under study. U 1 2 3 4 5

Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, economist and social reformer (1748-1832), developed the theory known as Act Utilitarianism. He developed the principle of utility or the greatest K 1 2 3 4 5 Bentham, Jeremy happiness principle to help people achieve happiness. It states that an action is right if it U 1 2 3 4 5 produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. He also devised the hedonic calculus as a means of measuring pleasure.

The term used by Utilitarians to describe pleasure which is ‘good’. K 1 2 3 4 5 happiness U 1 2 3 4 5

Principle created by John Stuart Mill. He argued that the only reason power can be rightfully K 1 2 3 4 5 harm principle exercised over a member of a civilised community, against their will, is to prevent harm U 1 2 3 4 5 to others. The criteria by which an Act Utilitarian attempts to measure pleasure and determine whether or not an action is right. Bentham’s seven criteria are: certainty - how sure are you that the K 1 2 3 4 5 hedonic calculus happiness will happen? Duration - how long does the happiness last? Extent - how many U 1 2 3 4 5 people does the happiness affect? Intensity - how strong is the happiness? Purity – how free from pain is it? Remoteness - how close in time is the pleasure for those involved? Richness - how much more pleasure will this lead to? Term used by J.S. Mill to distinguish between different forms of happiness. Higher pleasures K 1 2 3 4 5 are superior pleasures and are pleasures of the higher pleasures mind: intellectual pursuits, spiritual reflection U 1 2 3 4 5 etc. They are superior to lower pleasures. He believed that the quality of happiness produced by an act was more important than the quantity. Term used by J.S. Mill to distinguish between different forms of happiness. Lower pleasures K 1 2 3 4 5 lower pleasures are inferior pleasures and are pleasures of the body, satisfying the bodily need for food, water, U 1 2 3 4 5 sleep, etc. He believed that the quality of happiness an act produced was more important than the quantity. John Stuart Mill (1806—1873), British philosopher, political economist, civil servant and Member of Parliament, was an influential liberal thinker of the 19th century. He was a Utilitarian, following an ethical theory K 1 2 3 4 5 Mill, J.S. developed by Jeremy Bentham (his mentor). His form of Utilitarianism was, however, very U 1 2 3 4 5 different from Bentham's in two main ways. Firstly, he believed that the quality of pleasure an act produced was more important than the quantity. Secondly, unlike Bentham who was an Act Utilitarian, he appears to have been a Rule Utilitarian.

The belief that the possession of an arsenal of nuclear weapons defends a state from attack by K 1 2 3 4 5 nuclear deterrence another state, merely on the basis of a threat to deploy such weapons U 1 2 3 4 5

Bentham developed the principle of utility or K 1 2 3 4 5 principle of utility the greatest happiness principle, which states that an action is right if it produces ‘the greatest U 1 2 3 4 5 happiness for the greatest number.’ The view that there are no universal moral norms, but that an action should be judged right K 1 2 3 4 5 relativism or wrong depending on the social, cultural and individual circumstances in each situation; one U 1 2 3 4 5 of Fletcher’s four working principles. Theory of Utilitarianism based on general principles or rules of behaviour; a view associated with J. S. Mill. Rule Utilitarians Rule Utilitarianism believe that by using the utilitarian principle— K 1 2 3 4 5 the greatest happiness for the greatest number —one can draw up general rules, based on past U 1 2 3 4 5 experiences, which would help to keep this principle. Rules like ‘respect the property of others’ or ‘do not steal’ would help people to keep the utilitarian principle, so should be obeyed.

Component 1 Ethics: Key Questions

Complete this chart as you revise this component. Use pencil. When you become more familiar with answering the questions, you can rub out your earlier evaluations.

The questions in bold are the questions specified by the exam board. The questions not in bold are questions you need to be able to answer in order to answer the questions specified by the exam board.

Area Key Question My ability to answer this question Theme 1 : Ethical Is what God commands the measure of thought morality? 1 2 3 4 5

A What is the (traditional) divine command theory? 1 2 3 4 5

What is Robert Adams’ modern version of the divine command theory? 1 2 3 4 5

What are the differences between the two? 1 2 3 4 5

Why is divine command a requirement of God’s omnipotence? 1 2 3 4 5

In what way is divine command an objective metaphysical foundation for morality? 1 2 3 4 5 What are the three main criticisms of the divine command theory (with examples)? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 1 : Ethical Is being a good person more than just doing thought good deeds? 1 2 3 4 5

B Is Virtue theory useful when faced with a moral dilemma? 1 2 3 4 5

What are Aristotle’s examples of moral virtues? 1 2 3 4 5

What are the Golden Mean, vice of excess, and vice of deficiency? 1 2 3 4 5

What is/are the Beatitudes? 1 2 3 4 5

What virtues did Jesus encourage and what is their eschatological importance? 1 2 3 4 5

What are the three main criticisms of Virtue Theory (with examples)? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 1 : Ethical To what extent does ethical egoism inevitably thought lead to moral evil? 1 2 3 4 5

C To what extent are all moral actions motivated by self-interest? 1 2 3 4 5

What is the ethical theory that matches the moral agent’s psychological state? 1 2 3 4 5

Why does Stirner feel self-interest is the root cause of all human action? 1 2 3 4 5

Why does Stirner assert that egoism is not anti- social? 1 2 3 4 5

What are the three main criticisms of Ethical Egoism (with examples)? 1 2 3 4 5

Question throughout: Are any of the theories – divine command theory, 1 2 3 4 5 Virtue theory or ethical egoism- superior to the other theories? Theme 2: Aquinas’ To what degree should human law be Natural Law – a influenced by Natural Law? 1 2 3 4 5 religious approach to ethics How is Natural Law derived? A 1 2 3 4 5

Why is Natural Law an absolutist theory? 1 2 3 4 5

Why is Natural Law classed as having deontological aspects? 1 2 3 4 5

Why is Natural Law classed as having teleological aspects? 1 2 3 4 5

How do we define and identify God’s final purpose? 1 2 3 4 5

What are the five primary precepts? 1 2 3 4 5

How are the five primary precepts derived and what are they based on? 1 2 3 4 5

How do we arrive at the secondary precepts? 1 2 3 4 5

What is the importance of keeping to the precepts? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 2: Aquinas’ How, according to Aquinas, do we become more Natural Law – a God-like? 1 2 3 4 5 religious approach to ethics What are the Four Cardinal Virtues? B 1 2 3 4 5

What is the difference between an internal and external action? 1 2 3 4 5

What is the difference between a real and an apparent good? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 2: Aquinas’ How can the precepts be applied to abortion? Natural Law – a 1 2 3 4 5 religious approach to ethics How can the virtues apply to abortion? C 1 2 3 4 5

How does the concept of acts apply to abortion? 1 2 3 4 5

How does the concept of goods apply to abortion? 1 2 3 4 5

What does Natural Law conclude about the morality of abortion? 1 2 3 4 5

How can the precepts be applied to euthanasia? 1 2 3 4 5

How can the virtues apply to euthanasia? 1 2 3 4 5

How does the concept of acts apply to euthanasia? 1 2 3 4 5

How does the concept of goods apply to euthanasia? 1 2 3 4 5

What does Natural Law conclude about the morality of euthanasia? 1 2 3 4 5

Key questions throughout: 1 2 3 4 5 What are the strengths and weaknesses of Aquinas’ Natural Law?

Does Aquinas’ Natural Law promote injustice? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent is Natural Law meaningless without a belief in a creator God? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent does the absolutist and/or deontological nature of Aquinas’ Natural Law work in contemporary society? 1 2 3 4 5

How effective is Natural Law in dealing with ethical issues? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 3: Situation Why did Fletcher reject legalism? Ethics – a religious 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics

Why did Fletcher reject antinomianism? A 1 2 3 4 5

What was Fletcher’s rationale for using agape as the guiding principle for Situation Ethics? 1 2 3 4 5 What Biblical evidence did Fletcher have to support Situation Ethics? 1 2 3 4 5

What sort of ethical approach is Fletcher’s Situation Ethics? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 3: Situation What is the ‘boss’ principle of Situation Ethics? Ethics – a religious 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics What are the four working principles of Situation Ethics? 1 2 3 4 5 B What are the six fundamental principles of Situation Ethics? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 3: Situation How does the ‘boss’ principle apply to Ethics – a religious homosexual relationships? 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics How do the ten principles apply to homosexual relationships? 1 2 3 4 5 C Can there be any conclusion on the moral rightness of homosexual relationships from a 1 2 3 4 5 Situation Ethics approach?

How does the ‘boss’ principle apply to polyamorous relationships? 1 2 3 4 5

How do the ten principles apply to polyamorous relationships? 1 2 3 4 5

Can there be any conclusion on the moral rightness of polyamorous relationships from a 1 2 3 4 5 Situation Ethics approach? Key questions throughout: 1 2 3 4 5 To what degree is agape the only intrinsic good?

Does Fletchers’ Situation Ethics promote immoral behaviour? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent does Situation Ethics promote justice? 1 2 3 4 5

How effective is Situation Ethics when dealing with ethical issues? 1 2 3 4 5

Should agape replace religious rules? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent does Situation ethics provide a practical basis for making moral decisions for both religious believers and non-believers? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 4: Utilitarianism – a non-religious What is Bentham’s theory of utility? 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics

What is Bentham’s principle of utility? 1 2 3 4 5 A What is the Hedonic Calculus? 1 2 3 4 5

What factors must be considered in order to apply the Hedonic Calculus? 1 2 3 4 5

What type of ethical theory is Act Utilitarianism? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 4: Utilitarianism How did Mill develop his theory from Bentham’s – a non-religious Act Utilitarianism? 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics What is the difference between higher and lower pleasures? 1 2 3 4 5 B What is Mill’s Harm Principle? 1 2 3 4 5

What weaknesses of Act Utilitarianism did Mill try to address, and what did this result in? 1 2 3 4 5

What type of ethical theory is Act Utilitarianism? 1 2 3 4 5

Theme 4: Utilitarianism How does the principle of utility apply to animal – a non-religious experimentation for medical research? 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics How does the hedonic calculus apply to animal experimentation for medical research? 1 2 3 4 5 C

What does Act Utilitarianism conclude about the moral rightness of animal experimentation for 1 2 3 4 5 Act Utilitarianism medical research?

How does the principle of utility apply to the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent? 1 2 3 4 5

How does the hedonic calculus apply to the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent? 1 2 3 4 5

What does Act Utilitarianism conclude about the moral rightness of the use of nuclear 1 2 3 4 5 weapons as a deterrent?

Theme 4: Utilitarianism How does aiming for higher pleasures whilst – a non-religious fulfilling lower pleasures apply to animal 1 2 3 4 5 approach to ethics experimentation for medical research?

How does the harm principle apply to animal experimentation for medical research? 1 2 3 4 5 C How does the use of rules apply to animal experimentation for medical research? 1 2 3 4 5 Mill’s Utilitarianism What does Mill’s Utilitarianism conclude about animal experimentation for medical research 1 2 3 4 5

How does aiming for higher pleasures whilst fulfilling lower pleasures apply to the use of 1 2 3 4 5 nuclear weapons as a deterrent?

How does the harm principle apply to the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent? 1 2 3 4 5

How does the use of rules apply to the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent? 1 2 3 4 5

What does Mill’s Utilitarianism conclude about the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent? 1 2 3 4 5

Key questions throughout: 1 2 3 4 5 To what degree is pleasure the only intrinsic good?

To what extent does Act or Rule Utilitarianism work in contemporary society? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent does Rule Utilitarianism provide a better basis for making moral decisions? 1 2 3 4 5

Does Utilitarianism promote immoral behaviour? 1 2 3 4 5

To what extent does Utilitarianism promote justice? 1 2 3 4 5 To what extent does Utilitarianism provide a practical basis for making moral decisions for both religious believers and non-believers? 1 2 3 4 5

Websites for further information

Theme Area Website

General Summaries of ethical theorists and their works. Ethics • www.philosophypages.com/ph/index.htm

BBC's Religion and Ethics homepage with links • www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ to a forum and audio and video links. University of San Diego Ethics Updates page with links to theories, resources and applied • www.ethics.sandiego.edu/ ethics.

The Philosophers' Magazine games section • www.philosophers.co.uk/games/games.htm -good introduction to ethics activities e.g. Taboo.

Ethics section of the Internet Encyclopedia of • www.iep.utm.edu Philosophy.

A link to the news stories in the Guardian that • www.theguardian.com/world/ethics have an ethical theme. Good overview of ethics – in charts. •http://faculty.philosophy.umd.edu/PGreenspan/ Crs/ETHICAL%20THEORY.pdf

Good overview of ethical theory by Dr. Charles • http://sites.wofford.edu/kaycd/ethical-theory/ Kay. Good overview of basic ethical theory. •http://www.miracosta.edu/home/lmoon/ET.html

Useful material on many of the topics in the • www.Rsrevision.com specification. YouTube channel with ethics resources. •https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNUJUJtYw ZTSKymLPry08cw Excellent set of podcasts on Ethics courtesy of • https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/romp-through- the University of Oxford. ethics-complete-beginners Detailed overview of the Divine Command • http://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/ . Divine Theory Command A good student friendly overview. • http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/christian- Theory ethics/divine-command-theory/ An interesting and straightforward overview of •https://1000wordphilosophy.wordpress.com/201 the divine command theory. 4/03/31/because-god-says-so/

A basic overview of virtue ethics. •http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_virtue Virtue _ethics.html Theory Detailed internet philosophy encyclopedia • http://www.iep.utm.edu/virtue/ overview of virtues.

Extract from Ethical Theory 2 by Joe Jenkins • http://ethicsonline.co.uk/ethical-theory-ii/ available to buy on DVD or download.

A good introduction to ethical egoism. •http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/ethical_ego. Ethical html Egoism A very good overview of the work of Max •http://www.spunk.org/texts/intro/faq/sp001547/ Stirner. secG6.html

A good overview of ethical egoism. •https://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/pwill en1/lit/egomax.htm A good overview of Natural Law. • www.aquinasonline.com

A student friendly overview of Natural Law. • www.rsrevision.com

Links to articles/texts on Natural Law. • www.rsweb.org.uk/ethics/nml.html

Catholic Encyclopedia article on Natural Law. • www.newadvent.org/cathen/09076a.htm

Extract from Ethical Theory 2 by Joe Jenkins •http://ethicsonline.co.uk/ethical-theory-ii/ available to buy on DVD or download.

Abortion film by Joe Jenkins available to buy on http://ethicsonline.co.uk/abortion/ DVD or download. Student friendly overview of Situation Ethics • http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/situational- (with some bias). ethics.htm

An explanation of the theory given, together •www.faithnet.org.uk/ASSubjects/Ethics/situation with supporting quotes from Fletcher's book, _ethics.htm together with an evaluation of Situation Ethics. An article arguing against the idea that Jesus •www.christiancourier.com/archives/jesusEthics.h would approve of Situation Ethics. tm

Extract from Ethical Theory 1 by Joe Jenkins • http://ethicsonline.co.uk/ethical-theory-i/ available to buy on DVD or download. Links to multimedia resources, classic texts, •www.ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Utilitarianism online surveys and other websites. /index.asp Links to other websites • www.rsweb.org.uk/ethics/utilitarianism.html Article on Bentham and Mill from Carnegie •www.caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part1/se Mellon University, Pittsburgh. ct4/BenandMill.html Extract from Ethical Theory 2 by Joe Jenkins • http://ethicsonline.co.uk/ethical-theory-ii/ available to buy on DVD or download.