Review Questions
These review questions are designed to test your understanding of the topics discussed in each chapter. They are a useful way of assessing what you have learned about and from the issues raised.
- In ten bullet points explain what is meant by cultural relativism, including the difference between the diversity thesis and the dependency thesis.
- List the main weaknesses of relativism.
- What is the historical background to Situation Ethics?
- List the principles on which Situation Ethics is based.
- List the strengths of absolutism.
- Where did Natural Moral Law come from?
- What did Aquinas see as the purpose of human beings?
- How do we discover the primary and secondary precepts and what are they?
- Make a chart of the strengths and weaknesses of Natural Moral Law.
- What did Kant mean by ‘good will’?
- Why is duty important to Kant?
- Spider diagram or mind map the categorical imperative, with examples.
- Make a chart of the strengths and weaknesses of Kantian ethics.
- Explain the main principle of Utilitarianism.
- Explain the Utilitarianism of Bentham.
- Explain the Utilitarianism of Mill.
- Explain the differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism.
- Add more detail to the diagram:
- Explain the Euthyphro dilemma and how it can be used to criticise Divine Command theory.
- Is Christian ethics absolute, relative or both? Give your reasons.
- Is Christian ethics communitarian or individualistic? Give clear explanations.
- Explain the different approaches of Natural Law and Situation ethics.
- Can Christian ethics be considered utilitarian?
- Explain the importance of the question ‘When does life begin?’.
- What is meant by the idea of the sanctity of life and what Bible teachings would you use to explain the sanctity of life?
- Is the sanctity of life a convincing argument against abortion or the right to a child? Explain your reasons.
- Make a chart applying ethical theories to abortion.
- Explain whether you think a child is a right or a gift. Give reasons.
- List the main ethical problems raised by IVF.
- Make a chart applying ethical theories to the right to a child.
- Explain the link between euthanasia and the sanctity of life.
- Explain the link between euthanasia and the quality of life.
- What is the difference between killing and letting die? Does it matter?
- What are QUALYS?
- Make a chart applying the different ethical theories to euthanasia.
- Explain the differences between therapeutic and reproductive cloning.
- How could genetic engineering be used to alleviate world hunger? What are the problems with this?
- Explain the difference between adult and foetal stem cells – why is this important ethically?
- Take a current newspaper article about any form of genetic engineering or foetal research. Stick it on a piece of A3 paper and write brief notes around it on how different ethical theories would approach the issue.
- List some of the ethical problems with genetic engineering and foetal research.
- Make brief bullet point notes on each of the following:
- Jus ad bellum
- Jus in bello
- Jus post bellum
- Make a chart of the strengths and weaknesses of Just War theory.
- Explain Realism as an approach to war in one short paragraph.
- List the different types of pacifism and write one or two sentences explaining each.
- Make a chart of the strengths and weaknesses of pacifism.
- What is meant by the word meta-ethics?
- Explain one cognitive theory of meta-ethics.
- Explain the views of G.E. Moore.
- Explain Ross’s intuitionism.
- Explain one non-cognitive theory of meta-ethics.
- Explain emotivism.
- What is prescriptivism?
- Complete the meta-ethics mind map from memory.
- Where did Virtue Ethics originate?
- What is the difference between Virtue Ethics and other normative ethical theories?
- Explain Aristotle’s idea of the Golden Mean.
- How did Aristotle say we acquired virtues?
- How can Virtue Ethics help us in moral dilemmas?
- Make a chart of the strengths and weaknesses of Virtue Ethics.
- Explain the roles of science, society and psychology in determinism.
- Copy and complete the following revision chart on A3 paper:
Theory |
Key scholars |
Key ideas |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
Possible quotations |
Hard determinism |
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Predestination |
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Soft determinism |
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Libertarianism |
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- Here are the four questions posed at the beginning of the chapter:
- What is conscience?
- Where does conscience come from?
- Is conscience innate or acquired?
- What is its function in ethical decision-making?
- Make brief bullet point notes on Freud’s approach to conscience.
- Pick one opposing view to that of Freud and make bullet point notes.
- List the weaknesses in the statement ‘Conscience is the voice of God’.
- Explain religious approaches to the environment and Singer’s objections.
- Make bullet point notes on the Gaia hypothesis. List reasons for and against it.
- Make a chart comparing deep (dark green) and shallow (light green) ecology.
- List the strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to the environment.
- Explain how consumers can influence business ethics.
- Why is environmental responsibility a good business strategy?
- List the benefits and the problems of ethics for businesses.
- List the strengths and weaknesses of a Utilitarian approach to business ethics.
- How does Kant think business can help world peace?
- What does the Old Testament say about sex and relationships?
- What does the New Testament say about sex and relationships?
- Why/how did sex become linked with procreation?
- List the strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to sex and relationships.