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Knowledge Base: Religious Studies Ethics Year 7 | Spring Term 1
3. How do Utilitarians make ethical decisions?
3.1
Jeremy Bentham
18th century philosopher who founded Untilitarianism (1748-1832).
3.2
Key features
• The theory that the best action in any situation is the one which creates the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
• Maximise pleasure.
• Minimise pain.
• Relative
• Consequentialist
1. How do we make moral decisions?
1.1 moral
1.3 secular
1.4 religious
How people decide what is right and wrong.
An attitude, belief, or position that is not specifically religious. Someone who has a strong belief in God or gods.
1.2
ethics
A study of right and wrong and how that affects your actions. It is your morals.
1.5
thought experiment
The way that philosophers work out what is right and wrong using scenarios or stories that cannot be tested out in real life.
1.6
intentionalist ethics
The view that it is your intention that makes something right or wrong.
1.7
consequentialist ethics
The view that it is the consequences, the end result, that make something moral.
3.3 Key phrase
4.2 10 Commandments
“Do the greatest good for the greatest number of people”
A set of Biblical rules
4. How do followers of Divine Command Theory make ethical decisions?
4.1
Saint Augustine
4th century Christian monk who said for a person to be moral they are to follow God’s commands.
2. What are ethical theories?
2.1
Absolutism
The view that actions are always good or bad, regardless of the situation.
2.2
Relativism
The view that whether an action is good or bad depends on the situation.
2.3
Utilitarianism
Ethics which promotes “the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people”.
2.4
Situation Ethics
A Christian theory where the situation is taken into account first, before deciding on the rules of right and wrong. Based on the most loving action to take.
2.5
Kantian Ethics
Kant believed there is a universally right way to behave in every situation for every human. Kant believed that everyone has a duty to do the right thing, even if the consequences are negative.
2.6
Divine Command Theory
The right action because God commands it to be.
2.7
Virtue Ethics
How honest and moral a person is. Practicing good habits such as honesty, generosity makes a moral and virtuous person.
4.3
Key features
• Always follow God’s commands • Absolute
• Intentionalist
4.3
Key phrase
“The morally right action is the one that God commands or requires.”
5. How do followers of Situation Ethics make ethical decisions?
5.1
Joseph Fletcher
A philosopher who in the 1960’s came up with a theory of acting in the most Christian loving way when making moral decisions.
5.2 agape
• Unconditional love.
5.3
Key features
• The theory that the best action is the most loving action given the situation.
• Relative
• Consequentialist
5.3 Key phrase
“Always do the most loving thing in any situation.”
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