Key Question: What are ethics and why do we study it? Do Now Task: ‘It’s who we are not what we do that matters.’ Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer.

What does the class think? On your feet and show me where you stand on the continuum – be prepared to share your response.

Rules for all? Make a list of ten rules you think everyone should live by. Challenge: Explain which of your rules you think are applicable to every situation regardless of factors which may impact decisions.

Religious Rules for All? What about The Ten Commandments? Which of these rules can be applied to everyone? Challenge: Are there any which are absolute (either right or wrong in all cases)?

How many of these rules do you agree with? Disagree with? Why?

Background information Whether you consider yourself religious or not… your own morals have been heavily influenced by religion. Why are we saying that? What is the link between your own morals and religion?

But we do not all act in the same way… Define a good person…

Is it that we cannot or will not act in the same way? Does it mean we should be more concerned about who we are as a person?

Ethics and Morality Ethics – referring to the moral codes (rules) in place which govern our actions. Morality – relating to who you are as a person – the standards of behaviour and our principles of right and wrong.

What would you do? You have been presented with a scenario… As a pair you must discuss: What would you do? What would a religious believer do? What are the potential positive and/or negative outcomes of each scenario? Are your views the same as a religious believers? What is the application of The Ten Commandments? What would a ‘good person’ do in that situation?

Key Question: What are ethics and why do we study it? Plenary: Exit ticket… Explain what ethics are and why we study them.

What would you do… You witness a car crash. The wreckage is burning, but you may be able to save one of the two passengers. To your horror, you realise that one is your father and the other is a famous cancer specialist on the brink of a breakthrough. Who do you save?

What would you do… Your mother comes home with an appalling hat and asks you what you think. She is clearly delighted with the purchase. Do you tell her the truth?

What would you do… You are close to a breakthrough with a new medical treatment, but to complete your work you must carry out a lot of particularly slow and painful experiments on animals. What do you do?

What would you do… Your ship goes down and you’re lost in the sea with two others, all of you in a life raft. You have no food. Without a supply of food, there’s no hope of rescue before you starve to death. Two would survive by eating the third: otherwise, all three will die. What do you do?

What would you do… The parents of a car crash victim allow their son’s body parts to be used for transplants, but only if the parts go to white patients. Do you accept their condition?

What would you do… One night in a concentration camp, a boy has some of his uniform is taken away by another prisoner. Prisoners who are incorrectly dressed are shot at dawn by the guards. Should he accept his fate or steal from someone else?

What would you do… Siamese twins are born, attached at the abdomen and sharing several major organs. If nothing is done, both will eventually die. If the twins are separated, one will die and one will live. What should be done?

What would you do… A railway drawbridge operator is closing the bridge for the express train that is about to arrive when he sees his son trapped in the machinery. To close the bridge will kill his son but save the train. To open the bridge will save his son, but the train will not be able to stop in time. What should he do?

Now you make the situation up: Make a dilemma for others to try and decide what to do. Your situation must include a difficult choice with good and bad points to both sides.

Extension Create an A2 presentation regarding some of the ethical dilemmas you have been presented with and the possible outcomes. ‘Ethics’ as your title. You may also include some dilemmas of your own. Think about what you may have covered lower down the school or what you have encountered in the media. The best and most informative/interesting presentations will be rewarded with merits and postcards home from the Head of RS.

Key Question: What are ethics and why do we study it? Still think the same? ‘It’s who we are not what we do that matters.’ Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for your answer.