We’ve waited all these years since the new spec in 2018 and still no essay on applied ethics…

Still, we can totally envision that they could do this essay question next year, and what it might look like. There is plenty of material, I would argue, for such an essay in Paper 1. I have here some suggestions to help you plan an essay for all four applied ethics topics in AQA Philosophy A Level…I hope they are useful! Feel free to comment with your feedback. Of course, these are not exhaustive and you would need to add lots of your own ideas! 🙂 Best of luck!

Stealing

1. Intro – Is it ever justified or not? Which theory best explains this?

E.g. you could answer YES it is sometimes  justified, and Utilitarians have the best approach.

Rank the normative theories for how well they approach this issue.

2. Cases (best to have a couple of contrasting ones that elicit different intuitions) – e.g. downloading music illegally and stealing life saving drugs for a partner. REFER back to them throughout the essay.

3. Principle of charity – if you are arguing it IS justified, your POC will say why intuitively the act is wrong. If you are arguing the act is NEVER justified, POC will say why the act in some cases more than others doesn’t look all that bad.

4. Weakest theory – Is it ever justified? E.g. Yes, sometimes, because [e.g. as Aristotle would say…]…. When permissible: when it benefits the majority, for the right reason (utilitarian)

5. Middle theory (in terms of strength).

6. Strongest theory e.g. Utilitarians have the best approach… because….
7. Conclusion – refer back to your strongest point.

You can follow this formula for the other issues of applied ethics as an essay….

Lying

1. Intro – Is it ever justified?

Rank the normative theories for how well they approach this issue.

2. Cases: white lies/axe murderer vs lying to cover up adultery

3. Principle of charity – if you are arguing it IS justified, POC will say why intuitively the act is wrong.

If you are arguing the act is NEVER justified, POC will say why the act in some cases more than others doesn’t look all that bad.

• People don’t like being lied to
• Erodes trust

4. Weakest theory – Is it ever justified? E.g. Yes, sometimes, because [e.g. as Aristotle would say…]…. When permissible: when it benefits the majority, for the right reason (utilitarian)

5. Middle theory (in terms of strength).

6. Strongest theory e.g. Utilitarians have the best approach… because….
7. Conclusion – refer back to your strongest point.

Simulated killing

1. Intro – Is it ever justified? Rank the normative theories for how well they approach this issue.
2. Cases – video games, Oedipus VR headset theatre experience
3. Principle of charity-  if you are arguing it IS justified, POC will say why intuitively the act is wrong. If you are arguing the act is NEVER justified, POC will say why the act in some cases more than others doesn’t look as bad.
4. Weakest theory – Is it ever justified? E.g. Yes, sometimes, because [e.g. as Aristotle would say…]…. When permissible: when it benefits the majority, for the right reason (utilitarian)

5. Middle theory (in terms of strength).

6. Strongest theory e.g. Utilitarians have the best approach… because….
7. Conclusion – refer back to your strongest point.

Eating animals

1. Intro – Is it ever justified? Rank the normative theories for how well they approach this issue.
2. Cases – battery farmed chickens vs organically farmed, free range cows
3. Principle of charity – if you are arguing it IS justified, POC will say why intuitively the act is wrong. If you are arguing the act is NEVER justified, POC will say why the act in some cases more than others doesn’t look all that bad.
4. Weakest theory – Is it ever justified? E.g. Yes, sometimes, because [e.g. as Aristotle would say…]…. When permissible: when it benefits the majority, for the right reason (utilitarian)

5. Middle theory (in terms of strength).

6. Strongest theory e.g. Utilitarians have the best approach… because….
7. Conclusion – refer back to your strongest point.