rsrevision.com/ethical theory

Exam Practice

First, prepare yourself to answer questions on any of the Christian ethical theories - you can use these if asked about 'the religion you have studied':

• Natural Law
• Situation Ethics
• Virtue Ethics

June 2015:

1. Explain one religious ethical theory. [25]
2. 'Morality is always dependent on God.' Discuss.[10]

June 2014:

1. Explain the approaches of the religion you have studied to pacifism. [25]
2. 'A true religious believer should not allow war.' Discuss.[10]

June 2013:

1. Explain how a follower of the religion you have studied might approach the issues of infertility. [25]
2. 'The right to a child is not an absolute right.' Discuss. [10]

June 2012:

1. Explain how the followers of the religion you have studied justify going to war.[25]
2. 'Religious believers should be pacifist.' Discuss. [10]

January 2012:

1. Explain the main ethical principles of the religion you have studied with regard to genetic engineering. .[25]
2. 'Religious ethics prevents progress in genetic engineering.' Discuss. [10]

June 2011:

1. Explain the theories of religious and ethical pacifism. [25]
2. Assess the claim that killing in war is more justifiable than other forms of killing. [10]

June 2011 - A2:

Assess the claim that secular approaches to environmental issues are of more help than religious approaches. [35]

This is from January 2011 AS:

1. Explain how the followers of the ethics of the religion you have studied make ethical decisions. [25]
2. ‘Morality and religion are separate'. Discuss. [10]

This question came up in June 2010:

1. Explain the ethical principles of the religion you have studied in relation to war. [25]
2. ‘War should not be allowed even as a last resort’. Discuss. [10]

This question was from June 2009 :

1. Explain why a follower of religious ethics might object to euthanasia. [25]
2. 'Human dignity does not matter to a follower of religious ethics.' Discuss. [10]

This question was from the January 2009 AS Ethics paper:

1. Explain the ethical teachings of the religion you have studied.

2. ‘Some religious ethics are too rigid for modern decision making.’ Discuss.

This question was from the OCR Website :

1. Explain how religious ethics might be applied to issues of war and peace.
2. ‘A religious believer could never justify war’. Discuss.

The following is an exam question written by OCR:

(a) Explain the main ethical principles of the religion you have studied. [33]

(b) ‘“Treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself” is the most important ethical principle.’ How fair is this claim, in relation to the religion you have studied? [17]

In 2008, this A2 question came up:

How far can the ethics of the religion you have studied be considered Utilitarian? [45]

This A2 exam question is from June 2007:

Examine critically the claim that religious ethics are the best approach to justifying killing in war. [45]

This question is from June 2006:

'Only religious ethics can provide answers to the problems raised by euthanasia.' Discuss. [45]

These questions are from June 2005:

Compare and contrast Utilitarianism with the ethics of the religion you have studied. [45]

'Religious ethics prevent progress in embryo research.' Discuss. [45]

(taken from the OCR website)

We now have an interactive diagram showing how to answer an ethics exam question, The 'structure' of the paragraph will be different for 'ethical theory' questions, but the basic principles are the same. Try filling it in yourself and print out the completed diagram.