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AS 7: Foundations of Ethics with Special Reference to Medical Ethics

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism apply to abortion and euthanasia, and what do the issues turn on?

Issues in medical ethics: the sanctity and quality of life, personhood and viability, abortion, euthanasia and the right to die, and the application of Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism to these issues.
A CCEA AS 7 guide to issues in medical ethics. Covers the sanctity and quality of life debate, personhood and viability, abortion and euthanasia, and how Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism are applied to each issue, with the arguments these theories generate.
15 min answer →

What is Natural Moral Law, how does Aquinas ground it in reason and human purpose, and how well does it work as an ethical theory?

Natural Moral Law: the foundations in Aristotle and Aquinas, the primary and secondary precepts, the four tiers of law, real and apparent goods, the doctrine of double effect, and strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
A CCEA AS 7 guide to Natural Moral Law. Covers the roots in Aristotle and Aquinas, the five primary precepts and the secondary precepts derived from them, the four tiers of law, real and apparent goods, the doctrine of double effect, and the main strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
15 min answer →

How are religion and morality related, and is something good because God commands it or commanded because it is good?

The relationship between religion and morality: divine command theory, the Euthyphro dilemma, the autonomy and heteronomy of ethics, conscience, and whether morality depends on God.
A CCEA AS 7 guide to the relationship between religion and morality. Covers divine command theory, the Euthyphro dilemma, the autonomy and heteronomy of ethics, the role of conscience, and the debate over whether morality depends on God or can stand independently of religion.
14 min answer →

What is Situation Ethics, how does Fletcher make agape love the only absolute, and how well does it work as a Christian ethical theory?

Situation Ethics: Fletcher's agape principle, the four working principles, the six fundamental principles, the rejection of legalism and antinomianism, and strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
A CCEA AS 7 guide to Situation Ethics. Covers Joseph Fletcher's agape principle, the four working principles and the six fundamental principles, the middle way between legalism and antinomianism, the place of conscience, and the main strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
15 min answer →

What is Utilitarianism, how do Bentham and Mill differ, and how well does the greatest happiness principle work as a guide to action?

Utilitarianism: Bentham's act utilitarianism and the hedonic calculus, Mill's qualitative higher and lower pleasures and rule utilitarianism, the greatest happiness principle, and strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
A CCEA AS 7 guide to Utilitarianism. Covers Bentham's act utilitarianism and the hedonic calculus, Mill's distinction between higher and lower pleasures and his rule utilitarianism, the greatest happiness principle, the act and rule versions, and the main strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
15 min answer →