Ethical reasoning and textual interpretation
| English | 中文 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| obligation/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/ | 义务 | yì wù |
| consequentialism/ˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃɪəlɪzəm/ | 后果主义 | hòu guǒ zhǔ yì |
A decision you can investigate
- A promise conflicts with preventing harm.
- An ethical judgement needs reasons about duties, consequences or character.
Build the explanation
- Consequentialist approaches evaluate outcomes; duty-based approaches examine obligations; virtue approaches consider character and practical judgement.
- When reading a prescribed text, identify the author's actual claims and structure before criticizing them.
Match the terms to their precise meanings.
Use these definitions in the particular context of Ethical reasoning and textual interpretation.
Work through the evidence
- In an original dilemma, a harmless promise of secrecy conceals a serious safety risk. Compare reasons to keep the promise with reasons to protect a person.
- Explain how the facts alter the strength of each reason; do not assume a theory has one automatic answer.
What should come before evaluating a prescribed argument?
In an original dilemma, a harmless promise of secrecy conceals a serious safety risk. Compare reasons to keep the promise with reasons to protect a person. Explain how the facts alter the strength of each reason; do not assume a theory has one automatic answer.
Test the limits
- Ethics is one possible option, not a universal school selection. Other options and the approved prescribed text need dedicated teaching.
- Paper 2 assesses the chosen prescribed text, so a general ethics worksheet cannot replace textual study.
Which caution belongs to this particular task?
Ethics is one possible option, not a universal school selection. Other options and the approved prescribed text need dedicated teaching. Paper 2 assesses the chosen prescribed text, so a general ethics worksheet cannot replace textual study.
The explanation in this lesson makes a conditional claim; relevant context and evidence still matter.
Paper 2 assesses the chosen prescribed text, so a general ethics worksheet cannot replace textual study.
Apply and explain your answer
- What should come before evaluating a prescribed argument?
- An accurate reconstruction of its premises, conclusion and relevant distinctions.
Choose the two statements supported by this lesson.
The concept and worked evidence support these claims; the stated limits rule out the universal shortcut.
Use the terms precisely
- consequentialism 后果主义: An approach evaluating actions through their outcomes.
- obligation 义务: A duty or requirement to act in a particular way.
In an original dilemma, a harmless promise of secrecy conceals a serious safety risk. Compare reasons to keep the promise with reasons to protect a person. Explain how the facts alter the strength of each reason; do not assume a theory has one automatic answer.
Ethics is one possible option, not a universal school selection. Other options and the approved prescribed text need dedicated teaching. Paper 2 assesses the chosen prescribed text, so a general ethics worksheet cannot replace textual study.
Consequentialist approaches evaluate outcomes; duty-based approaches examine obligations; virtue approaches consider character and practical judgement.