main arguments

Question 1

Natural Law

1-2

Answer 1

strengths
- deontological but still with some flexibilities/use of reason

weaknesses
- relies too heavily on religious principles with a western focus
- telos can be questioned, remove God you remove telos

Question 2

kantian ethics

1-2

Answer 2

strengths
- it respects the intrinsic value of a person, treats people as ends in themselves making it less prone to personal bias

weaknesses
- it feels wrong to always ignore the outcome, against our nature
- it is much too abstract and theoretical

Question 3

utilitarianism

1-2

Answer 3

strengths
- progressive and moves with the times/not religious and democratic

weaknesses
- Bentham’s theory can justify all sorts of things and causes issues for minorities
- Mill’s theory improves upon it by emphasising the quality of happiness not the quantity and rule over act but still runs into issues of measuring pleasure/def of higher pleasure

Question 4

situation ethics

1-2

Answer 4

strengths
- good that it takes situation into account

weaknesses
- the concept of agape is very vague and difficult to actually apply
- it requires impossible predictions of the future and seems to be a worse version of utilitarianism

Question 5

strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to CSR

2-2

Answer 5

strengths
- ensures businesses take consideration and see people as ends
- would help the environment

weaknesses
- may come at a detriment to business as it ignores profit
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory

Question 6

strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to CSR

2-1

Answer 6

strengths
- ensures the company still makes a profit
- liberals in favour of companies deciding what’s best for themselves as opposed to government restrictions (Bentham and Mill were very liberterian)

weaknesses
- lack of a deontological outlook would result in no fixed principles and dubious practices

Question 7

strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to whistleblowing

1-3

Answer 7

strengths
- ensures one does their duty regardless of outcome

weaknesses
- whistleblowing is hard for the individual and asks them to ignore the outcome
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory
- what to do when duties conflict

Question 8

strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to whistleblowing

2-1

Answer 8

strengths
- always ensures that it benefits the most people
- makes the individual consider the consequences of their actions through the hedonic calculus

weaknesses
- just because most people benefit it could still seriously harm a few individuals (tyranny of the majority) and justify all sort of questionably business practices

Question 9

strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to globalisation

1-2

Answer 9

strengths
- ensures good pay and treatment of all workers regardless of pay/treats people as ends in themselves

weaknesses
- ignores profit
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory

Question 10

strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to globalisation

3-1

Answer 10

strengths
- would ensure a company made a good profit and source the cheapest labour
- some forms of utlitarianism might view the suffering of a few individuals as not worth the pleasure of the masses
- they would point to the millions who have been lifted out of poverty as a result of globalisation

weaknesses
- other forms of utilitarianism might argue that poor treatment of some is worth the benefit of others

Question 11

strengths of situation ethics applied to euthanasia

1

Answer 11

recognises the complexity and individuality of each case taking a teleological approach

Question 12

weaknesses of situation ethics applied to euthanasia

3

Answer 12

1. the lack of absolute rules means all sorts of things could be justified, could lead to a slippery slope… where do you stop
2. it requires impossible predictions of the future
3. ambiguous nature makes it hard to practically apply

Question 13

strengths of natural law applied to euthanasia

1

Answer 13

deontological theory sets out a clear approach that is easy to follow

Question 14

weaknesses of natural law applied to euthanasia

3

Answer 14

1. fundamentally a religious theory that not every culture could apply
2. relies on the principle of sanctity of life which is outdated in todays society (kind of just links to the above)
3. lacks compassion for those who are greatly suffering

Question 15

is the concept of sanctity of life still relevant in today’s society

1-2

Answer 15

yes
- it provides clear deontological guidelines that prevent a slippery slope

no
- we live in an increasingly globalised world with multicultural societies therefore a fundmentally religious principle is no longer helpful
- quality of life is significantly more helpful as it applies to everyone regardless of religion

Question 16

strengths of naturalism/all cognitive theories

3

Answer 16

1. upholds a moral standard
2. allows for moral progress
3. many fundamental moral principles are universally agreed upon

Question 17

weaknesses of naturalism

3

Answer 17

1. Hume’s is-ought problem
2. G.E. Moorie’s naturalistic fallacy
3. observing the world around us will always reflect its time e.g. hedonistic nature of the late 18th century (Bentham) or FH Bradley’s views on class division

Question 18

weaknesses of intuitionism

2

Answer 18

1. people’s intuitions differ
2. doesn’t account for different ‘intuitions’ across cultures etc.

Question 19

weaknesses of emotivism

1

Answer 19

could use Hick’s eschatological verification to argue for Ayer’s form of the verification principle but this would be rejected by anyone non-religious

Question 20

strengths of Aquinas’ view on conscience

4

Answer 20

1. improvement upon other religious theories on conscience
2. takes into account that reason can be mistaken
3. explains why we might change our minds
4. explains moral disagreement

Question 21

weaknesses of Aquinas’ view on conscience

Answer 21

1. does not fit with our experience of conscience
2. doesn’t take into account social and environmental factors
3. takes a cognitive view that there is a ‘right’ conscience

Question 22

strengths of Freud’s view on conscience

Answer 22

1. tries to ground his explanation in scientific fact
2. recognises the role of social and cultural factors

Question 23

weaknesses of Freud’s view of conscience

Answer 23

1. his research was based on only a handful of studies
2. could not even be hypothetically empirically verified (Ayer)
3. Popper, falsification and pseudo-science