Ethics, morality and human conduct
What this domain tests
Ethics, morality and human conduct tests how religious and non-religious systems justify moral decisions. You must know sources of authority, apply them to issues and evaluate competing claims.
Key frameworks
- Divine command: actions are right because God commands them.
- Natural law (Aquinas): reason discerns God-given purposes; primary precepts include preserving life.
- Situation ethics (Fletcher): act according to agape in each situation.
- Virtue ethics: focus on character and flourishing.
- Just war criteria: legitimate authority, just cause, right intention, proportionality, last resort, reasonable chance of success; jus in bello requires discrimination and proportionality.
- Pacifism rejects all war (Quakers; ahimsa in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism).
Applied issues
On abortion, Catholic teaching upholds the sanctity of life from conception; many Protestant bodies allow exceptions; Islamic scholars differ, often permitting before ensoulment (variously 40 or 120 days) for serious reasons. On euthanasia, most traditions oppose active killing while permitting pain relief; pikuach nefesh in Judaism prioritises saving life. On capital punishment, retribution and deterrence clash with rehabilitation and the sanctity of life.
Worked example
'"War can never be justified." Evaluate.' Strong: present just war theory (war may be lawful if criteria are met), then pacifism (Matthew 5:9 'blessed are the peacemakers'; Qur'an 2:190 limits fighting to those who fight you), then weigh: criteria are hard to verify and civilians die disproportionately. Conclude with a reasoned judgement, not a list.
Traps
Do not say 'all Christians' or 'Islam says' without a source or school. Do not confuse legality with morality. In evaluation questions, a one-sided answer caps the mark: state the opposing view and respond.