Ethics

Question 1

Define ‘deontological’ (2)

Answer 1

Making a decision abiding fully by the law.

Dependent on the righteousness of the method as opposed to the success of the outcome.

Question 2

What is meant by the term ‘greatest good for the greatest number of people’? (1)

Answer 2

Making a decision depending on what beats benefits the majority

Question 3

List 3 others ways to define ‘good’ other than pleasure or happiness (3)

Answer 3

Beauty

Friendship

Justice

Question 4

Name an example of someone feeling pleasure but no happiness (1)

Answer 4

Someone who’s suffering from an addiction, getting their fix

Question 5

Name an example of someone feeling happiness but no pleasure (1)

Answer 5

A woman giving birth

Question 6

Matilda decided to cheat on her boyfriend meaning she’s a consequentialist. Explain why. (2)

Answer 6

The outcome of Bruce not finding out and the pleasure she’ll feel as a result, outweighs her means to achieving it

Question 7

Sheila decides not to cheat on her boyfriend meaning she’s a deontologist. Explain why (2)

Answer 7

To her the fact that bruce won’t find out is irrelevant as she feels it’s her duty to not cheat on him.

Question 8

List the 3 propositions of ‘consequentialist utilitarianism’ (3)

Answer 8

Actions are judged to be right or wrong by looking at the consequence

Actions are right when decisions result in outcomes where the pleasure is greater than the pain

No one’s pleasure or happiness or more important than anyone else’s

Question 9

Where does the word ‘utilitarian’ come from? What does it mean? (2)

Answer 9

Utility meaning ‘usefulness’

Question 10

Name the 7 criteria of the hedonic calculus and add a short sentence explaining what each one means (7)

Answer 10

Intensity
(How intense is the pleasure/pain?)

Duration
(How long does the pleasure/pain last?)

Rate of certainty
(How likely is the p/p to take place?

Closeness
(How far away is the p/p from taking place?)

Fecundity
(How likely is it to trigger other p/ps?)

Purity
(How pure is the p/p?)

Extent
(How many people are affected by the p/p?)

Question 11

Explain Mill’s ‘quality of pleasure’ (2)

Answer 11

The argument that some pleasures are more desirable and valuable than others.

For example giving birth to child is of higher quality than eating a sandwich as the sandwich will be finished in a matter of minutes whereas the pleasure of having a children will keep increasing throughout your life.

Question 12

List 3 higher pleasures (3)

Answer 12

Getting married

Giving birth

Passing your driving test

Question 13

List 3 lower pleasures (3)

Answer 13

Eating a sandwich

Listening to your favourite song

Reading your favourite book

Question 14

‘It’s better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; it’s better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied’ explain what Stuart mill means by this. (2)

Answer 14

The quality of pleasure that satisfies a human is more than that of an animal so it takes more for a human to be happy. People are capable of more than animals so will therefore reject animal pleasures.

Question 15

Name the 4 principles of harm making up the harm principle (4)

Answer 15

We should be from from society’s constraint

Freedom should only be limited when the actions of one harm another

We should not intervene even if the individual is of harm to themselves.

Don’t encroach on the rights of someone else

Question 16

List 2 things people should be free to do that don’t harm themselves or others (2)

Answer 16

Freedom of choice

Freedom of speech

Question 17

List 3 things people should be free to do that may harm themselves but not others (3)

Answer 17

Self harm

Body modification (tattoos, piercings etc)

Drugs/alcohol

Question 18

List 2 things people should be prevented from doing because they may harm others (2)

Answer 18

Crime (murder, theft etc)

Torture

Question 19

Name something you may want to prevent a person doing because it will harm them (1)

Answer 19

Suicide

Question 20

Define ‘act utilitarianism’ (1)

Answer 20

Making a decision based on the situation and consequence - no fixed rules

Question 21

Define ‘rule utilitarianism’ (1)

Answer 21

There are a set of moral laws that must be abided by in every situation for example telling the truth, keeping promises and acting justly.

Question 22

List 3 strengths of utilitarianism (3)

Answer 22

It’s straightforward and based on the single principle of minimising pain and maximising pleasure.

It relates to actions that can be observed in the real world.

It supports the general view that human well being is intrinsically good.

Question 23

List 3 weaknesses of utilitarianism (3)

Answer 23

There’s no guarantee the consequences will turn out as predicted

There’s not enough credit or emphasis on the intention behind the act

It’s subjective

Question 24

Name 3 other possible goals in life despite the pursuit of pleasure (3)

Answer 24

Doing God’s will

Compassion

Enlightenment

Question 25

Define 'legalism' (1)

Answer 25

An approach to moral decision making that applies the moral law regardless of the consequences

Question 26

Define 'antinomianism' (1)

Answer 26

The rejection of all moral laws and the reaching of decisions on a spontaneous, ad hoc and unpredictable basis. Rejected by Fletcher as unprincipled and irrational.

Question 27

Define situation ethics (1)

Answer 27

The moral theory proposed by Joseph Fletcher which requires the application of love to every unique situation.

Question 28

What are the 4 principles? (4)

Answer 28

Pragmatism Relativism Personalise Positivism

Question 29

Define pragmatism (2)

Answer 29

The proposed action must work towards a loving end and be practical in that it achieves a loving outcome The action must work and be possible

Question 30

Define relativism (3)

Answer 30

* No fixed rules or absolutes that must always be obeyed, (but neither is there a free for all) * Decisions must be relative to Christian love and act according to Christian love * Situations are examined in their own right * Situation ethics “…relativizes the absolute, it does not absolutize the relative" (Fletcher)

Question 31

Define positivism (3)

Answer 31

* The course of action has to start with a positive choice because you need to want to do good * Giving first place to Christian love (which is known to be good without reasoning for it) * We experience Gods love therefore it should be our main motivation

Question 32

Define personalism (3)

Answer 32

* Putting people first * Whilst the legalist puts law before the person, situation ethics values that people are more important than rules * As Jesus showed in the New Testament, for example working on the Sabbath “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”

Question 33

Name the 6 principles (6)

Answer 33

“Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all” “The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else.” Love and Justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.” Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not.” “Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.” “Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively”

Question 34

“Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all”

Answer 34

Love is the only absolute good. Everything else is only relatively good, in some circumstances. Nothing else is intrinsically good, regardless of all other factors.

Question 35

“The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else.”

Answer 35

Agape is the principle taught by Jesus, he broke the commandments when love demanded it. Love replaces law. It is a self-giving love, allowing people freedom and responsibility to choose the right thing for themselves.

Question 36

Love and Justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.”

Answer 36

Justice will automatically follow from love; if love is put into practice then it can only result in justice. Justice is love at work.

Question 37

“Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not.”

Answer 37

Love must have no favourites and give no- one preferential treatment, but must treat all as equally valuable. It is not sentimental or erotic, it is unconditional and requires nothing in return.

Question 38

“Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.”

Answer 38

A moral action must be considered with reference to its end, and this end must be love. It must not be a means to some other end; people must choose what to do because the result will be love, not be loving to achieve some other result.

Question 39

Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively”

Answer 39

The loving thing to do will depend on the situation. Most people therefore will regard Situation Ethics as a relativistic approach to morality.

Question 40

Describe fletcher's conscious

Answer 40

The process of decision making not the thing you make it with

Question 41

Define 'consequentialism' (2)

Answer 41

Making a decision based on the result despite the means used to get to it