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A RECAP – Why keep studying Philosophy and ethics?

At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their lives. Ethics, therefore, is concerned with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy. The term is derived from the Greek word ethos which can mean custom, habit, character or disposition.

Ethics covers the following dilemmas:

how to live a good life

our rights and responsibilities

the language of right and wrong

moral decisions - what is good and bad?

Our concepts of ethics have been derived from religions, philosophies and cultures. They infuse debates on topics like abortion, human rights and professional conduct.

Approaches to ethics

Philosophers nowadays tend to divide ethical theories into three areas: metaethics, normative ethics and applied ethics.

Meta-ethics deals with the nature of moral judgement. It looks at the origins and meaning of ethical principles.

Normative ethics is concerned with the content of moral judgements and the criteria for what is right or wrong.

Applied ethics looks at controversial topics like war, animal rights and capital punishment.

What use is ethics?

If ethical theories are to be useful in practice, they need to affect the way human beings

behave. Some philosophers think that ethics does do this. They argue that if a person

realises that it would be morally good to do something then it would be irrational for that

person not to do it.

But human beings often behave irrationally - they follow their 'gut instinct' even when their

head suggests a different course of action. However, ethics does provide good tools for

thinking about moral issues.

Ethics can provide a moral map

Most moral issues get us pretty worked up - think of abortion and euthanasia for starters.

Because these are such emotional issues we often let our hearts do the arguing while our

brains just go with the flow.

But there's another way of tackling these issues, and that's where philosophers can come in

- they offer us ethical rules and principles that enable us to take a cooler view of moral

problems. So ethics provides us with a moral map, a framework that we can use to find our

way through difficult issues.

Ethics can pinpoint a disagreement

Using the framework of ethics, two people who are arguing a moral issue can often find that

what they disagree about is just one particular part of the issue, and that they broadly agree

on everything else. That can take a lot of heat out of the argument, and sometimes even hint

at a way for them to resolve their problem. But sometimes ethics doesn't provide people with

the sort of help that they really want.

Ethics doesn't give right answers

Ethics doesn't always show the right answer to moral problems. Indeed more and more

people think that for many ethical issues there isn't a single right answer - just a set of

principles that can be applied to particular cases to give those involved some clear choices.

Some philosophers go further and say that all ethics can do is eliminate confusion and clarify

the issues. After that it's up to each individual to come to their own conclusions.

Ethics can give several answers

Many people want there to be a single right answer to ethical questions. They find moral

ambiguity hard to live with because they genuinely want to do the 'right' thing, and even if

they can't work out what that right thing is, they like the idea that 'somewhere' there is one

right answer. But often there isn't one right answer - there may be several right answers, or

just some least worst answers - and the individual must choose between them. For others

moral ambiguity is difficult because it forces them to take responsibility for their own choices

and actions, rather than falling back on convenient rules and customs.

Is RS Philosophy & Ethics any use beyond A levels?

Most universities offer RS based subjects as a degree option. Also, many universities offer ethical sub-topics as degree options too. These include:

Religious Studies Comparative Religion Philosophy Humanities Theology Anthropology Social Science Comparative Politics Medicine (as long as the others are science based)

RS is also a good A level for students considering studying history, English literature or any humanity of social science based studies at university.

Many occupations involve working with different groups within society and Sociology may help your career choices. For example, these could include:

Academia Politics Non-profit organisation Medicine Scientific research Police Teaching Journalism

A2 – Year Overview

(Specific content is on the next page)

Autumn Term First Half

Virtue ethics (Mr Cahill) Free will and determinism (Mr. Jones)

Autumn Term Second Half

Finish the above Start Science and technology (Mr. Cahill) Start Religious views on sexual relationships (Mr. Jones)

Spring Term First Half

Finish the above Start ways of making moral decisions (Mr. Jones and Mr. Cahill)

Spring Term Second Half

Continue with the above Exam Preparation

A2 - Subject content

A2 Paper 1 (1 hour 30 mins)

Four topics are identified for study and there will be one question based on each topic. Candidates must answer two questions. Understanding of any one topic may be informed by a study of the others, and, where relevant, candidates may draw on material from more than one topic in their answer to any question set. To study less than the full Specification content may disadvantage a candidate’s synoptic grasp of the material for study.

Where appropriate, answers should show awareness that there are differing views on the topics and issues studied. AO1 questions will be set on the content listed below. AO2 questions will be focused on the issues surrounding the interpretation of the material studied or on the issues arising from that material below.

1.Libertarianism, free will and determinism•Free will: question of genetics and environment; free will curtailed by volition; contracting into societies; conflict of free wills• Libertarianism: the personality and the moral self; the conscience; the causally undetermined choice• Determinism: the principle of causality; ‘hard’ determinism and ‘soft’ determinism; internal and external causation • A religious perspective on libertarianism and determinism

Issuesarising• How free are human actions and choices?• Is it the case that, unless you are in complete isolation, you can never have true libertarianism?• Does libertarianism require no influences to be truly free?• If we are not free, can we be held responsible for our actions?• Strengths and weaknesses of libertarianism, free will and determinism for making ethical choices

2. Virtue Ethics• Aristotle’s view: happiness (eudaimonia), moral and intellectual virtues, cardinal virtues and capital vices• Modern Virtue Ethics: MacIntyre and Foot• The application of Virtue Ethics to one issue of the candidate’s choice apart from issues in science and technology

Issuesarising• Strengths and weaknesses of Virtue Ethics as an ethical system• Is Virtue Ethics really different from deontological and teleological systems?• The significance of a particular view of human nature for Virtue Ethics• How compatible is Virtue Ethics with a religious approach to ethics? 3. Religious views on sexual behaviour and human relationships

Candidates will be expected to have studied the teachings of one of the six major world religions, but, where appropriate, may refer to more than one religion in their answers. Candidates should note that views should focus upon:• Scripture-based ideas which are rooted in text• Institutional-based ideas which have been developed by a particular religious institution• Individual-based ideas which will have been developed from individual conscience or interpretation of scripture/institutional-based ideas• Sexual behaviour outside marriage, including pleasure and procreation • Views on marriageas a sacred event or secular monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, adultery• Human relationships, respect and responsibility for others, the abuse of power• Concept of love (different styles:brotherly, physical, Christian agapé), family and children Issuesarising• Because religious teaching is rooted in history, is it ever relevant to people today?• Whether sexual behaviour is a matter that religion should concern itself with• Is modern society setting its own codes of behaviour, and is religion simply trying to adapt to them?

4.Science and technology• Experimentation (animals and humans) and the role of ethics in decision-making• Inventions and the role of ethics in the control of their use (e.g.nuclear inventions)• Scientific and technological advances and decisions about who benefits• Human rights and the conflict with the use of technology, e.g. surveillance, data storage, cyber crime• A religious perspective on these issues in science and technology Issuesarising• Should science be controlled by ethics,and, if so, which ethical system?• Is it better for ethics to be reactive – to respond to new scientific ideas?• Can a scientific discovery be ‘undiscovered’?• How far should society allow religion to control scientific and technological development?

A2 Paper 2 (1 hour 30 mins)

Topic 4 – Ways of making moral decisions

Both from scripture and from religious institutions. Religious teaching and guidance about behaviour and how to determine good and bad, right and wrong. The use of religious conscience for allowing an individual to determine how to make decisions. The role of religious tradition in determining behaviour.

• The application of religious ethical teaching and systems to one of the topics below, either A or B.

• Ethical systems, both deontological and teleological, and how these can be used to assist people in making moral decisions; consideration of which style might be more suitable or have fewer weaknesses. Consideration of hybrid styles of ethical systems and whether these are more suitable for moral decision-making in 21st century societies.• The application of ethical systems to one of topics A or B, below.• Candidates should study one of the topics (A or B) below to support their answers:

A. Medical research and medical developments The use of embryos, human cells, medical trials on humans. The use of animals for medical research. Brain death, life support systems, limitation of the availability of drugs / medical services for people. B. Business practice and economicsMoral management of national economies (macro). The moral management of individual companies (micro), ethical investment. The developed economies versus the third world developing economies. Approaches to emerging economies, including China and India.

Aims of Assessment

This Specification is designed to encourage you to:

develop their interest in and enthusiasm for a rigorous study of religion and relate it to the wider world;

treat the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to a specialist study of religion;

adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion; reflect on and develop their own values, opinions and attitudes in the light of

their learning.

Assessment Objectives (A01 and A02)

You will be required to meet the following Assessment Objectives.

AO1 Select and demonstrate clearly relevant knowledge and understanding through the use of evidence, examples and correct language and terminology appropriate to the course of study. In addition, for synoptic assessment, A Level candidates should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the connections between different elements of their course of study.

AO2 Critically evaluate and justify a point of view through the use of evidence and reasoned argument. In addition, for synoptic assessment, A Level candidates should relate elements of their course of study to their broader context and to aspects of human experience.

Quality of Written Communication (QWC)

In GCE specifications which require candidates to produce written material in English, candidates must:

ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that meaning is clear;

select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex subject matter;

organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate.

In this Specification, QWC will be assessed in all questions and in all units.

Recommended Books

Bowie, R. (2008) AQA Religious Studies A2 (Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes)

Oliphant, J. (2008) AQA Religious Ethics for AS and A2 (London: Routledge)

Vardy, P. (1999) The Puzzle of Ethics (London: Fount)

There are various A2 study guides, but ensure you buy the correct ones. You are studying AQA Religious Ethics (unirs 1 & 2 – RSS01 and RS002).