WJEC A Level Religious Studies - Religion and
Ethics
Ethical Thought (Parts 1-2) - Flashcard Set
111 edited question-and-answer cards
Question Answer
What is Divine Command Divine Command Theory is a meta-ethical view according to
Theory? which moral obligations depend on God's commands: an
action is right because God commands it and wrong because
God forbids it.
Which quotation from Jerry "When we as a country again acknowledge God as our
Falwell supports a religious creator and Jesus Christ as the Saviour of mankind, we will be
basis for public morality? able to turn this nation around economically as well as in
every other way."
Which quotation from Emil "The Good consists in always doing what God wills at any
Brunner summarises Divine particular moment."
Command Theory?
Which quotation from "There are some whose killing God orders, either by law, or
Augustine illustrates a strong by an express command to a particular person at a particular
form of Divine Command time."
Theory?
Which quotation from Julian "There are reasons to believe that God, if he exists, is the
Baggini challenges Divine greatest relativist of them all."
Command Theory?
What is the Euthyphro Socrates asks whether an action is loved by the gods
dilemma? because it is holy, or whether it is holy because the gods love
it.
What problem arises if the Goodness would exist independently of God. God would
gods approve an action recognise moral truth rather than create it, which appears to
because it is already holy? limit divine sovereignty or omnipotence.
What problem arises if an Morality appears arbitrary: any action could become right
action is holy only because the merely because God commanded it, with no independent
gods approve it? reason why the command is good.
Which quotation from J. A. T. "They are the commandments which God gives... They come
Robinson presents divine down direct from Heaven, and are eternally valid for human
commands as eternally valid? conduct... whether or not they are judged by differing human
societies to be crimes."
Which quotation from William "I reply that hatred, theft, adultery, and the like may involve
of Ockham illustrates the evil according to the common law... As far as everything
arbitrariness objection? absolute in these actions is concerned, however, God can
perform them without involving any evil."
How does Robert Adams modify Adams grounds moral obligation in the commands of a loving
Divine Command Theory? God. Because God's character is necessarily benevolent,
divine commands cannot be cruel or arbitrary.
Which quotation summarises "Any action is ethically wrong if and only if it is contrary to
Adams' Modified Divine the commands of a loving God."
Command Theory?
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, Question Answer
What is the problem of Different religions claim different divine commands, they
pluralism objection? share some moral ideas but there are clear differences.
There are also several different ethical stances within one
religion.
What does Dawkins mean by a He argues that societies develop a shifting moral consensus
changing moral zeitgeist? over time, so contemporary moral judgement need not
depend on an unchanging religious command.
What is Dawkins' first major Dawkins argues that some scriptural portrayals of God and
criticism of religious morality? some religious teachings are morally objectionable by
modern standards. He therefore rejects the claim that
scripture automatically provides a timeless and reliable
moral code.
How can Dawkins' criticism of It can overgeneralise from extreme texts or actions to
religious morality be religion as a whole. Religious traditions contain diverse
challenged? interpretations, and believers often reassess teachings
through reason, context and developing moral
understanding.
What is Dawkins' second major Dawkins questions whether conduct motivated only by divine
criticism of religious morality? reward or punishment is genuinely moral. He also argues
that altruistic tendencies can be explained through evolution,
including kin selection and reciprocal cooperation.
What is a limitation of Evolution may help explain why human beings developed
evolutionary explanations of cooperative tendencies, but it does not by itself establish
morality? what people morally ought to do.
How do weaker versions of They may treat divine commands as binding within a
Divine Command Theory particular faith community rather than as a universally
understand God's commands? demonstrable foundation for morality.
How do stronger versions of They identify moral rightness directly with God's will. Critics
Divine Command Theory argue that this gives the theory little authority for non-
understand God's commands? believers and revives the arbitrariness problem.
What is Virtue Theory? Virtue Theory focuses on the moral agent's character rather
than judging isolated acts alone. Its central question is what
kind of person someone should become.
How would a virtue ethicist The ethicist would ask what the decision reveals about
approach a possible lie? character and whether a truthful or deceptive response
expresses practical wisdom and the relevant virtues in that
situation.
What is Aristotle's account of Aristotle argues that virtues developed through habit enable
Virtue Theory? a person to reason and act well, fulfil their social nature and
achieve eudaimonia.
In which work does Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics.
develop Virtue Theory?
What is eudaimonia? To be happy and fulfilled through cultivating virtues (arete).
"Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with
virtue" (Scruton).
What are the two types of Intellectual and moral.
virtues according to Aristotle?
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
Ethics
Ethical Thought (Parts 1-2) - Flashcard Set
111 edited question-and-answer cards
Question Answer
What is Divine Command Divine Command Theory is a meta-ethical view according to
Theory? which moral obligations depend on God's commands: an
action is right because God commands it and wrong because
God forbids it.
Which quotation from Jerry "When we as a country again acknowledge God as our
Falwell supports a religious creator and Jesus Christ as the Saviour of mankind, we will be
basis for public morality? able to turn this nation around economically as well as in
every other way."
Which quotation from Emil "The Good consists in always doing what God wills at any
Brunner summarises Divine particular moment."
Command Theory?
Which quotation from "There are some whose killing God orders, either by law, or
Augustine illustrates a strong by an express command to a particular person at a particular
form of Divine Command time."
Theory?
Which quotation from Julian "There are reasons to believe that God, if he exists, is the
Baggini challenges Divine greatest relativist of them all."
Command Theory?
What is the Euthyphro Socrates asks whether an action is loved by the gods
dilemma? because it is holy, or whether it is holy because the gods love
it.
What problem arises if the Goodness would exist independently of God. God would
gods approve an action recognise moral truth rather than create it, which appears to
because it is already holy? limit divine sovereignty or omnipotence.
What problem arises if an Morality appears arbitrary: any action could become right
action is holy only because the merely because God commanded it, with no independent
gods approve it? reason why the command is good.
Which quotation from J. A. T. "They are the commandments which God gives... They come
Robinson presents divine down direct from Heaven, and are eternally valid for human
commands as eternally valid? conduct... whether or not they are judged by differing human
societies to be crimes."
Which quotation from William "I reply that hatred, theft, adultery, and the like may involve
of Ockham illustrates the evil according to the common law... As far as everything
arbitrariness objection? absolute in these actions is concerned, however, God can
perform them without involving any evil."
How does Robert Adams modify Adams grounds moral obligation in the commands of a loving
Divine Command Theory? God. Because God's character is necessarily benevolent,
divine commands cannot be cruel or arbitrary.
Which quotation summarises "Any action is ethically wrong if and only if it is contrary to
Adams' Modified Divine the commands of a loving God."
Command Theory?
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
, Question Answer
What is the problem of Different religions claim different divine commands, they
pluralism objection? share some moral ideas but there are clear differences.
There are also several different ethical stances within one
religion.
What does Dawkins mean by a He argues that societies develop a shifting moral consensus
changing moral zeitgeist? over time, so contemporary moral judgement need not
depend on an unchanging religious command.
What is Dawkins' first major Dawkins argues that some scriptural portrayals of God and
criticism of religious morality? some religious teachings are morally objectionable by
modern standards. He therefore rejects the claim that
scripture automatically provides a timeless and reliable
moral code.
How can Dawkins' criticism of It can overgeneralise from extreme texts or actions to
religious morality be religion as a whole. Religious traditions contain diverse
challenged? interpretations, and believers often reassess teachings
through reason, context and developing moral
understanding.
What is Dawkins' second major Dawkins questions whether conduct motivated only by divine
criticism of religious morality? reward or punishment is genuinely moral. He also argues
that altruistic tendencies can be explained through evolution,
including kin selection and reciprocal cooperation.
What is a limitation of Evolution may help explain why human beings developed
evolutionary explanations of cooperative tendencies, but it does not by itself establish
morality? what people morally ought to do.
How do weaker versions of They may treat divine commands as binding within a
Divine Command Theory particular faith community rather than as a universally
understand God's commands? demonstrable foundation for morality.
How do stronger versions of They identify moral rightness directly with God's will. Critics
Divine Command Theory argue that this gives the theory little authority for non-
understand God's commands? believers and revives the arbitrariness problem.
What is Virtue Theory? Virtue Theory focuses on the moral agent's character rather
than judging isolated acts alone. Its central question is what
kind of person someone should become.
How would a virtue ethicist The ethicist would ask what the decision reveals about
approach a possible lie? character and whether a truthful or deceptive response
expresses practical wisdom and the relevant virtues in that
situation.
What is Aristotle's account of Aristotle argues that virtues developed through habit enable
Virtue Theory? a person to reason and act well, fulfil their social nature and
achieve eudaimonia.
In which work does Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics.
develop Virtue Theory?
What is eudaimonia? To be happy and fulfilled through cultivating virtues (arete).
"Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with
virtue" (Scruton).
What are the two types of Intellectual and moral.
virtues according to Aristotle?
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
