Ethics Past Paper Questions

Below are past paper questions for the Ethics side of the course.

This website does not (yet) have any Ethics notes but there are lots of online sites that do have very good Ethics revision resources.

One excellent site is the easy to remember www.rsrevision.com. They have notes on theories, ethical issues as well as some interactive revision activities and some down loadable resources.

The BBC also has an excellent section on ethics. It can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/guide/.

Past papers:

June 2013:

1. To what extent are religious teachings on the environment and the Gai hypothesis compatible?
2. ‘Without freedom it is impossible to make moral choices.’ Discuss.
3. Critically assess the view that the word ‘good’ has no real meaning.
4. ‘Businesses are completely incompatible with Virtue Ethics.’ Discuss.

January 2013:

1. Critically assess the claim that conscience is a reliable guide to ethical decision making.
2. 'Following the example of virtuous people is the most useful aspect of Virtue Ethics.' Discuss.
3. Critically assess the view that businessess have a moral duty to put their consumers first.
4. 'Religious approaches to sexual ethics are more helpful than secular approaches.' Discuss.

June 2012:

1. How convincing are Butler's claims that people have an innate sense of right and wrong?
2. To what extent are ethical theories helpful when considering ethical business practice?
3. To what extent do moral statements have objective meaning?
4. 'There is no moral imperative to care for the environment.' Discuss. 

January 2012:

1. 'All ethical language is prescriptive.' Discuss.
2. Critically assess the claim that free will and determinism are compatible.
3. To what extent do modern versions of Virtue Ethics address the weaknesses of Aristotle's teaching on virtue?
4. 'For moral issues surrounding sex the demands of conscience override other ethical considerations.' Discuss.
   

June 2011:

1. 'Ethical statements are no more than expressions of emotion.' Discuss.
2. Critically assess the view that we are not responsible for our evil actions.
3. To what extent is Virtue Ethics helpful when making decisions about extramarital sex?
4. Assess the claim that secular approaches to environmental issues are of more help than religious approaches.
   

January 2011:

1. Critically assess the claim that conscience is the voice of reason.
2. 'The environment suffers because business has no ethics.' Discuss.
3. 'Our ethical decisions are merely the result of social conditioning.' Discuss.
4. 'Natural Law is the most reliable approach when making decisions about premarital sex.' Discuss.
   

June 2010:

1. 'The weaknessess of Virtue Ethics outweigh its strengths.' Discuss.
2. Assess the usefulness of Religious Ethics as an ethical approach to business.
3. Critically assess the claim that people are free to make moral decisions.
4. To what extent are ethical theories helpful when considering the issues surrounding homosexuality? 

January 2010:

1. To what extent is ethical language meaningful?
2. 'Utilitarianism is not the best approach to environmental issues.' Discuss.
3. Assess the view that conscience need not always be obeyed.
4. 'Some ethical theories are of more help than others when making decisions about sexual issues.' Discuss.