I am very grateful to Laura Middleton of St Leonard's for sending me a list of predicted questions for this coming exam. I am broadly in agreement – if you're a teacher reading this, please do comment and send in any suggestions. For example, for AS Ethics I think Kant is long overdue a named question and Genetic Engineering (see my blog two weeks ago): for AS Philosophy of religion the Ontological Argument is due this time round for sure. At A2 I think Laura s right to connect Virtue to Environmental Ethics, and a question on theological determinism is certainly due (see Free Will). A mention of contraception or homosexuality this year are favourites under sexual ethics. At A2 Philosophy, many people are tipping verifaction/falsification or symbol under Religious Language (see  Laura's question below) and if I was betting, I would put serious money on a question on Miracles – so look at this at eevry angle including the Biblical approach to miracles. So my hottest tips are in red.

A2 Ethics 2013 G582

Freewill and determinism

‘God knows the ethical decisions we will make.’ Discuss.
 
‘Unless we assume that everyone is free to make moral choices, we have no right to punish.’  Discuss.

Meta Ethics

Discuss critically the idea that we intuitively know what is good.

Sexual Ethics

‘Utilitarianism is the most reliable approach when making judgements about sex and relationships.’ Discuss.
To what extent are ethical theories helpful when considering the issues surrounding contraception?

Virtue Ethics

Modern approaches to virtue ethics bear no resemblance to Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

Conscience

Evaluate the claim that conscience is the voice of reason.

Environmental and Business ethics

Virtue ethics is the best approach to the issues surrounding the environment. Discuss.

A2 Philosophy 2013 G581

Religious Language

The verification principle offers no real challenge to religious belief.
Critically compare the use of symbol with the use of analogy to express human understanding of God.

Miracles

‘The biblical concept of miracles leads to belief in a God who cares more for some than for others.
 Nature of God
 
‘If God knows what we are going to do he has no right to reward the good and punish the wicked.’ Discuss.
 
Life After Death
 
The concept of resurrection is incoherent. Discuss.
 
The promise of an afterlife is an inadequate response to the problem of evil. Discuss.
 
AS Philosophy 2013 G571

Ontological argument

 a) Explain how Descartes developed Anselm’s argument that God’s existence is necessary.
b) Evaluate the claim that existence is a perfection which God cannot lack.
 OR
a) Explain Anselm’s and Descartes’ versions of the ontological argument.
b)“Anselm’s and Descartes’ arguments fail because belief in God is about faith not logic.” Discuss.
 
Judeo-Christian concept of God

(a) Explain the biblical concept of God as Creator.
(b) Assess the claim that God created the universe and is therefore responsible for everything that happens in it.
OR
(a) Explain how the Bible presents God as involved with his creation.
(b) “The creation stories in the Bible are fiction”.  Discuss.
 
The Problem of Evil

a)  Explain how Augustine understands the role of human freewill.
OR
Explain the origins of evil and the role of free will.
 
b)  “Natural evil is not explained by the need for free will” Discuss
 
Cosmological argument

1 (a)Explain the cosmological argument as put forward by Aquinas and Copleston.
  (b)‘Critics have successfully undermined the cosmological argument.’ Discuss.
 
Teleologoical argument
1 (a)Explain Darwin’s (Hume’s) challenge to the teleological argument.
OR
a)  Explain the strengths of the teleological argument.

b)  “Hume successfully criticises the teleological argument.” Discuss.
 
 AS Religious Ethics 2013 G572

Natural Moral Law

1 (a)  Explain the ideas of purpose and perfection in natural law.
1 (b)  ‘One set of moral principles should apply to all societies.’ Discuss.
Or           ‘a Natural law approach is the best approach to fertility treatment’

Religious Ethics

2 (a)  Explain how far religious ethics is dependent on God.
Or      Explain how far religious ethics are relative.
2 (b)   ‘A right ethical act is one approved by God.’ Discuss.
Or      ‘A religious believer could never justify fertility treatment (or genetic engineering).’

Kant

3 a)   Explain how Kant’s idea of the summum bonum fits into his theory of ethics.
3 b)    How coherent is the summum bonum?

Utilitarianism 
4 ( a)  Explain the difference between a quantative and qualatitive approach to utilitarianism
    (b)  ‘A Utilitarian approach to genetic engineering is fair’. Discuss.

Absolute and relative

5 (a) Explain the strengths of a relativist approach to moral decision making.
(b) ‘A relativist approach is the best when considering issues of euthanasia.’ Discuss.

Euthanasia

Explain the concept of ‘sanctity of life’ and how it applies to euthanasia.

Genetic Engineering

Explain the ethical issues raised by genetic engineering.

Abortion

Explain how the right to life may influence approaches to abortion.

Explain how the right to life may conflict with the rights of those involved.