Religion, Ethics and Conscience

What this unit covers

The unit sits in the Ethics and Value Theory strand of Philosophy. Its resources look at how religion, morality and the conscience connect. Most are mind maps, with quizzes, flashcard decks, slide sets and notes alongside them.

• Ethical theories: Situation Ethics, Natural Law, Virtue Ethics and Divine Command Theory.
• Conscience: many maps, including Christian Views on Conscience and Secular Views on Conscience, plus a Conscience quiz and flashcards.
• Applied topics: Euthanasia, Pacifism, Sexual Ethics, Environmental Ethics and the notes on sexual consent.

Where to start

Begin with the Situation Ethics mind map. It sets out Fletcher's idea of agape, unconditional love, and explains why he saw absolute rules as too demanding. Then open the mind map Situation Ethics is not compatible with Christian Ethics, which argues the other side. Next, read the Christian Ethics map to see the sources of moral authority, such as the Bible, the church and conscience.

Working on conscience

The Conscience quiz asks why we have a conscience and where it comes from. The flashcards ask about Aquinas, Augustine, vincible and invincible ignorance, and terms such as the id and the super-ego. Read one of the Conscience mind maps first, then test yourself on the cards.

Using maps and quizzes together

1. Read a mind map slowly and cover each branch in turn.
2. Take the matching quiz without notes.
3. Note which answers you missed and go back to those branches.
4. Use flashcards for short definitions and key philosophers.

For application topics, the sexual ethics decks look at the subject through Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics and Kant, which is useful for comparing theories. Teachers can pick a map or slide set to open a lesson, then set a quiz to close it.

Make it your own

Choose one theory you find hard, work through its map and quiz, and then try summarising it in a map or deck of your own.