CCEA AS 7 Foundations of Ethics: a complete overview of the ethical theories and medical ethics

CCEA AS 7 Foundations of Ethics is the Religion and Ethics unit of the AS-Level Religious Studies course, one of eight AS units spread across four areas of study. Its full title is Foundations of Ethics with Special Reference to Issues in Medical Ethics, and it studies how we decide what is right, through three major normative theories, and how those theories apply to medicine. This overview maps the unit and how to study it.

The relationship between religion and morality

The unit begins with the foundational question of whether morality depends on God. It examines divine command theory (an act is right because God commands it), the Euthyphro dilemma that challenges it, the contrast between the autonomy and heteronomy of ethics, and competing accounts of conscience. How you answer this question shapes how you read the three theories that follow.

The three normative theories

AS 7 sets three influential theories side by side, and a recurring exam task is to compare them.

Natural Moral Law

A religious, absolutist and deontological theory developed by Aquinas from Aristotle. It grounds morality in human purpose (telos), derives secondary precepts from five primary precepts by reason, and uses the doctrine of double effect.

Situation Ethics

A Christian, relativist and teleological theory set out by Joseph Fletcher. It makes agape (selfless love) the only absolute, follows four working and six fundamental principles, and steers a middle way between legalism and antinomianism.

Utilitarianism

A secular, consequentialist theory founded by Bentham (act utilitarianism and the hedonic calculus) and refined by Mill (higher and lower pleasures, rule utilitarianism). The right act produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Application to medical ethics

The unit's special reference is to medical ethics, so the theories are tested against real cases.

• The sanctity versus quality of life debate frames the issues.
• Abortion, with the questions of personhood and viability.
• Euthanasia and the right to die, with the active and passive distinction and the doctrine of double effect.

How AS 7 is assessed

AS 7 is a written paper testing two assessment objectives.

• AO1 (knowledge and understanding). Explain theories, key terms and how a theory applies to an issue, accurately and clearly.
• AO2 (analysis and evaluation). Assess a claim, argue both sides and reach a substantiated judgement.

How to study AS 7 Foundations of Ethics

This unit rewards precise knowledge of each theory and the ability to apply and compare them.

1. Learn each theory exactly. Key thinkers, terms and structure for Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism.
2. Drill application. Practise how each theory handles abortion and euthanasia, because application is heavily tested.
3. Compare the theories. Absolutist versus relativist, religious versus secular, deontological versus teleological.
4. Rehearse balanced evaluation. For AO2, argue both sides and reach a clear judgement.
5. Practise with CCEA past papers. The AO1 and AO2 split and the question style are board-specific.

The module, dot point by dot point

Each theme has a specification-level page with worked questions and cross-links, plus a quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/religious-studies/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA's own past papers.