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Utilitarianism

 

Key Points

Exam practice

There are various types of questions you may get asked:

Have a look at 'Evaluating the Theories' and TICKETs (pdfs), as well as each of the ethical theories on War (AS) and the Environment (A2).

June 2015:

a. Explain how Utilitarians might approach euthanasia. [25]

b. ‘Helping a terminally ill patient to die is morally wrong.’ Discuss. [10]

June 2014:

  1. Explain some of the different forms of Utilitarianism. [25]
  2. Assess the view that Utilitarianism is the best approach to the right to a child. [10]

June 2013:

  1. Explain the main principles of the classical forms of Utilitarianism. [25]
  2. ‘Utilitarianism is not a good guide for resolving ethical dilemmas.’ Discuss. [10]

January 2013:

  1. Explain how Mill's Utilitarianism might be used to decide the right course of action. [25]
  2. Assess the extent to which Utilitarianism is a reliable method of making decisions about abortion. [10]

January 2012:

  1. Explain the main differences between the Utilitarianism of Bentham and that of Mill. [25]
  2. 'MIll's Utilitarianism is superior in every way to the Utilitarianism of Bentham.' Discuss. [10]

This question came up in January 2011:

  1. Explain the main differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism. [25]

  2. To what extent is Utilitarianism a useful method of making decisions about euthanasia? [10]

This was from June 2010:

  1. Explain the main strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism. [25]

  2. ‘Utilitarianism can lead to wrong moral decisions.' Discuss. [10]

This question was from the January 2009 AS Ethics paper:

  1. Explain how Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism can be used to decide on the right course of action.

  2. ‘Utilitarianism is the best approach to euthanasia.’ Discuss.

This question was from the OCR Website :

  1. Explain the main strengths of a Utilitarian ethical system.

  2. Assess the extent to which Utilitarianism is a useful method of making decisions about abortion.

The following are AS exam questions written by OCR:

(a) Describe and explain the main principles of Utilitarianism. [33]

(b) ‘Utilitarianism has nothing at all in common with religious ethics’.  Discuss. [17]  

(a) Explain a Utilitarian approach to issues raised by fertility treatment. [33]

(b) ‘A Utilitarian approach to issues raised by fertility treatment leads to wrong moral choices.’ [17]

(a) Explain the main differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism. [33]

(b) To what extent is Utilitarianism a useful method of making decisions about euthanasia? [17]

This A2 exam question is from June 2006:

'Utilitarianism is the best approach to environmental issues.' Discuss. [45]

This question is from June 2005:

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

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