AS Ethics - Main Paper

Here's an overview of what you need to know for the main Ethics paper:

Kant and the Categorical Imperative
- Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, 1785)
- The moral law
- Good will and duty
- The Imperatives (Categorical and Hypothetical)
- The Kingdom of Ends
- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Position on Medical Ethics (abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, embryology, right to a child)

Utilitarianism

- Jeremy Bentham (Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1789)
- Principle of Utility
- Teleological ... consequences
- Humans seek pleasure and try to avoid pain.
- An action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
- The Hedonic Calculus: intensity, duration, certainty, closeness, followed by similar sensations, purity, extent.

- John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism, 1863)
- If quantitative pleasure, nothing would stop one's pleasure being extinguished for the sake of the minority.
- Therefore: qualitative pleasures are better.
- Higher pleasures (of the mind) and lower pleasures (of the body)

- Act Utilitarianism
- each individual situation
- flexible
- could justify virtually any act

- Rule Utilitarianism
- best overall rule which if followed by whole community leads to greatest result
- JSM: I must obey the rule even if it does not lead to the greatest pleasure for me in this situation
- could still permit morally unacceptable practices eg slavery

- Strengths and Weaknesses of each position
- Position on Medical Ethics

Absolute and Relative Morality
- Know the difference between the two
- Know examples of Ethical Theories that fit into each
- Know Philosophers attached to each
- Know strengths and weaknesses of each
- Know the position of each on Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics
- You will be asked questions about the positions of various ethical theories on the following areas of medical ethics:
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Genetic Engineering (in particular, cloning)
- Embryology
- The right to a child (not to be confused with the right to life!)
- You should know the strengths and weaknesses of each of the theories when dealing with these issues.
- You should know some key facts and issues that should be addressed in each issue.

As you can see, we still have a lot to revise ... watch this space for more help, suggestions and exam questions!

GCSE Podcasts

I'm all for new technology, and I know that many of you have iPods or mp3 players, so you may find the resources at GCSE Podcast helpful. I found a couple of podcasts on euthanasia (free) and abortion (£1.50). These sound very useful for revision purposes. Check them out!