Starter quiz
- The study of right and wrong is known as ______.
- 'ethics' ✓
- What is the meaning of 'deon' in 'deontology'?
- virtue
- duty ✓
- happiness
- choice
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- Which of these is an example of deontological ethics?
- choosing to act based on the consequences of the action
- following rules or duties, regardless of the outcomes ✓
- making a decision that will make everyone happy
- doing what feels right in the moment
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- ______ argued that you should always act according to the rule that you would want everyone else to follow.
- 'Kant' ✓
- Why did Kant believe that people should never break promises?
- because it leads to personal gain
- because it undermines trust and respect for others ✓
- because it can improve social relationships
- because it is a way to avoid discomfort
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- Which of the following best describes Kant's concept of the categorical imperative?
- an action is only right if it brings about the best consequences
- an action is right if it is done out of personal duty, regardless of the outcome ✓
- an action is right if it brings happiness to the greatest number of people
- an action is right if it is universally accepted by society
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Exit quiz
- What does the word 'telos' mean in ethical theory?
- the intention behind an action
- the end goal or purpose of an action ✓
- the rules we must follow
- the feelings we experience during an action
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- Which of the following decisions are examples of a teleological approach?
- deciding to tell the truth because it is the right thing to do
- donating money to a charity because it helps improve the lives of others ✓
- following a rule that says you must always be honest
- choosing to stay quiet to avoid getting into trouble ✓
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- Which of the following best explains utilitarianism?
- making decisions based on following rules, regardless of the outcome
- choosing actions that result in the greatest good for the greatest number ✓
- focusing on the intentions behind actions, rather than their consequences
- always acting in a way that benefits oneself, even if others are harmed
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- Put the steps below in the correct order for applying utilitarianism.
- 1⇔identify what options you have
- 2⇔predict the outcomes for each action
- 3⇔weigh the happiness gained against the pain
- 4⇔choose the greatest good for the greatest number
- A city must decide whether to build a new park. According to utilitarianism, what should the main consideration when making the decision be?
- the amount of money the city will spend
- the number of people who will enjoy the park and benefit from it ✓
- whether the park follows the city's existing rules and regulations
- whether the decision is made by elected officials
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- A criticism of utilitarianism is that it can be difficult to calculate the exact amount of ______ an action will cause.
- 'good' ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Teleological ethics focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions rather than the actions themselves.
- Utilitarianism aims to produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
- The good is equated with happiness and actions are considered right if they lead to more happiness than pain.
- Utilitarianism can be critcised, e.g., it is difficult to calculate how much happiness an action would produce.
Common misconception
Utilitarianism does not argue that any action is acceptable as long as it makes the majority happy.
Utilitarianism considers both the positive and the negative outcomes to determine which action produces the best overall consequences for the greatest number of people.
Keywords
Teleogical ethics - ethical theories that focus on the outcomes or consequences of an action
Greatest good - the idea that actions should aim to produce the most happiness for the most people
Jeremy bentham - an 18th-century philosopher and social reformer who developed utilitarianism
Utilitarianism - an ethical theory that focuses on achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people
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