This assessment brings together everything you've learned in the Ethics unit. You'll recall key theories, compare different ethical approaches, sort examples correctly, and build an argument about which framework best guides us to live well. Show what you understand — and where you still have questions.
Test yourself on what you remember. Try to answer before revealing.
Here's a brief summary of all the ethical approaches you've studied. Read carefully — you'll need to sort examples and compare these frameworks in the next tabs.
Actions are right if they produce good outcomes. The most famous version is utilitarianism: "the greatest good for the greatest number." Focused on results, not intentions or rules.
Actions are right or wrong based on rules and duties, regardless of outcomes. The rule "don't steal" is always wrong, even if stealing would save someone's life.
Focuses on character. A good person develops wisdom, courage, honesty, and compassion. Right action comes from cultivating these qualities over time, not from calculating outcomes or following rules blindly.
Based on the Eightfold Path and the Five Precepts. Actions that increase suffering (lies, theft, violence) are wrong. Good actions support enlightenment and reduce karma. Emphasis on mindfulness and intention.
No God or supernatural authority. Right and wrong are based on reason, empathy, and evidence about human wellbeing. Focus on promoting happiness and reducing suffering for all people.
God sets the rules (Ten Commandments, Shariah). Christians emphasise love and compassion — "what would Jesus do?" Muslims follow Shariah law on justice, family, charity. Both combine rules with character development and divine consequences.
Below are 15 statements. Sort each one into the correct framework: Consequentialism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Religious Ethics, or Humanist Ethics. Drag and drop or click to move.
Which ethical framework offers the best guide for living a good life? Consider all the approaches you've studied. Which one — or which combination — makes most sense to you and why?
Choose one ethical framework (or explain how you combine more than one). Refer to at least three different approaches from the unit. Explain which you find most convincing and why. Consider: Does it actually work in real life? Does it protect people? Does it promote happiness? Can it handle difficult dilemmas?
Target: 200–250 words
Three positions are debated below. Which makes most sense to you? Consider evidence from the whole unit.
No single framework handles every situation well. Real life requires rules (deontology) to protect people, consequences (consequentialism) to guide choices, and character (virtue ethics) to navigate complexity. Religious and humanist approaches remind us that ethics serve different purposes: reducing suffering, respecting rights, and building community.
If you commit to one strong approach, everything becomes clear. Consequentialists focus on reducing suffering. Deontologists protect rights absolutely. Virtue ethicists develop good judgment. Religious followers have clear guidance. Humanists use reason and empathy. Mixing frameworks creates confusion — pick the strongest one and apply it consistently.
Real dilemmas are messy. Frameworks are too rigid — they ignore context, relationships, and culture. Each situation is unique. Wise people don't follow frameworks; they develop judgment through experience. Ethics comes from wisdom and empathy, not theory. Rules and calculations miss what matters most: human connection.
Which position do you agree with most? Can you explain why, using examples from the unit? Are there situations where one position works better than the others?