Ethics
What the domain tests
The SEC Ethics domain examines whether you can identify moral issues, explain ethical concepts accurately, apply normative theories to realistic cases, and evaluate competing judgments. It is not a test of personal opinion: marks go to structured reasoning that names the relevant values, considers stakeholders, and defends a conclusion against objections.
Core rules and concepts
- Normative ethics asks what makes actions right; meta-ethics asks what moral language means; applied ethics applies theory to areas such as medicine, business, environment and technology.
- Consequentialism judges acts by outcomes. Utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill) seeks the greatest overall welfare; distinguish act from rule utilitarianism.
- Deontology judges acts by duties and rules. Kant's categorical imperative includes the formula of universal law and the formula of humanity: treat persons as ends, never merely as means.
- Virtue ethics focuses on character: Aristotle's golden mean and practical wisdom (phronesis).
- Natural law grounds morality in human goods discerned by reason; the doctrine of double effect distinguishes intended harm from foreseen side effects.
- Use human dignity and rights as a shared framework when evaluating cases.
Worked example
A student sees a friend cheat in a test. Should they report it? Identify the moral issue: loyalty versus honesty and fairness. List stakeholders and facts. Apply theories: a utilitarian weighs trust, harm to the friend and fairness to the class; a Kantian asks whether cheating or covering up can be universalised and whether each person is treated as an end; virtue ethics asks what an honest, loyal and just person would do. Compare the conclusions, answer the strongest objection, and state a defended judgment.
Traps
- Defining terms vaguely.
- Confusing act and rule utilitarianism.
- Treating "everyone has their own opinion" as a moral argument.
- Ignoring counterarguments.
- Confusing intention with foresight in double effect.