Religious Education

Year 9
Spring 1
Philosophy and Ethics.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

W/B W/B W/B W/B W/B W/B

4th January 11TH January 18th January 25th January 1st February 8th February.

Lesson 1 Lesson 2: Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6

Introduction to Situation Ethics. Utilitarianism. Designer Babies. Humanism Design Argument.

Ethics.

1
 LESSON 1 – Introduction to Ethics.
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA use online source to help you. Self-Asses on slide 4.
2. Watch the video Task and answer as many questions as you can on slide 6.
3. Write the definition of ethics in your book on slide 6 do the same for morality
on slide 7.
4. Answer a series of ethical questions on slide 8 using reference to the terms.
5. Complete the PEEL paragraph and Self-Assess.
6. Review your learning on slide 11.
7. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR
INTERNET IS DOWN, COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’
QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE
TEXTBOOK. 2
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. What are the three persons of the Trinity?

2. What does Crucifixion and Resurrection mean?

3. Explain the story of the Nativity.

 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
1. What are the three persons of the Trinity?
DNA Answers

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

2. What does Crucifixion and Resurrection mean?

Crucifixion – Remembers the death of Jesus dying on the cross.
Resurrection: Remembers Jesus coming back alive 3 days after.

3. Explain the story of the Nativity.

Mary was told by the Angel that she would have a Son and he would be the
son of God. Mary would be a virgin. They were on way to Bethlehem when
Jesus was born in a manger. They were visited by the magi (3 wise men)

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral
decision making.
 Watch the video.
Video Task.

Play along with the

quiz and write your
answers in your
book.

Write down what

you think Ethics
might mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzmNoFnxu68 Provide an example.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral
decision making.
Green Pen Reflection
What is ethics?

Ethics refers to moral principles which govern the way we as

humans behave in society. As humans, we are different, and we
behave differently to others.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral
decision making.
Green pen Reflection
What is morality?

Morality refers to principles which concerns right and wrong or

good and bad behaviour.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral
decision making.
 Read the questions and write what do you thin for each scenario. Make sure you refer
to ethics and morality in your response.

1. If I do a good thing for a bad reason, does it matter?

2. Is it ok to do a bad thing for a good outcome?
3. Do the needs of many outweigh the needs of the few or the one?
Task.

4. Is what’s wrong for you necessarily wrong for me?

5. Does the rightness or wrongness of an action vary according to the situation?
6. Are we free to make moral choices?
7. Is being moral about following rules?
8. Should we use our heads or our hearts when deciding what’s right? Challenge:
9. Can we have morals without religion? How can we
10. Should I help my father before I help a stranger? better justify our
11. Is killing an unborn human as immoral as killing a born human? argument? What
12. Should people who want to die be helped to die? things can we do?

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral
decision making.
 Explain two reasons why Ethics are important.
PEEL Paragraph.
Success criteria:
 Explain fully using PEEL paragraphs
 Include a religious teaching and key words
 Include an example
 Give clear points which link to the question
 Link your paragraph back to the question

P One reason why ethics are important because…

10 minutes
For example… (give an example of what he did)
Two clear PEEL
E This means… (explain your point here) paragraph!
E Therefore, (link back to the question)
L To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
LO:
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 Ethics serve as a guide to moral daily living and helps us judge
whether our behavior can be justified. Ethics refers to society's sense
of the right way of living our daily lives. It does this by establishing
rules, principles, and values on which we can base our conduct. Ethics
Exemplar

refers to society’s sense of the right way of living our daily lives. It does this by
establishing rules, principles, and values on which we can base our conduct.
The concepts most directly associated with ethics are truth, honesty, fairness,
and equity. Morals are a set of rules or mode of conduct on which society is
based. Certain moral elements are universal, such as the laws forbidding
homicide and the basic duties of doing good and furthering the well-being of
others

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

11
 LESSON 2 – Situation Ethics.
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA on slide 16 and self-assess on slide 17.
2. Read the background information on slide 18 and using a highlighter, zoom in on any times,
places and key words which link to Ethics.
3. Answer the ethical questions on slide 19.
4. Write the definition of Situation Ethics on slide 20.
5. Watch the entire video ‘Situation Ethics’ Type in the BBC link into a web browser. Complete the
task on slide 21. Complete the Task set on slide 22.
6. Read the information on slide 23-24 and pick one pro and one con and explain your opinion on
it. Write the quote on slide 25 and explain what you think it means.
7. At the end, complete the PEEL paragraph on slide 26 and self-assess on slide 27.
8. Review your learning by answering the questions on slide 28.
9. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR INTERNET IS DOWN,
COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’ QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH12
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. What does ethics mean?

2. What does morals mean?

3. Do these guide us to live our lives? Explain your answer.

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA Answers

1. What does ethics mean?

Decisions people make on how to live a good life.

2. What does morals mean?

Principles which govern your decisions eg: Religion, Culture.

3. Do these guide us to live our lives? Explain your answer.

Opinion answer

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
Background Information
What is Situation Ethics

In situation ethics, right and wrong depend upon the situation.

There are no universal moral rules or rights - each case is unique and deserves a unique
solution.

Situation ethics rejects 'prefabricated decisions and prescriptive rules'. It teaches that ethical
decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case
by case basis.

Situation Ethics comes from a Christian approach where by love and agape are at the heart of
all decisions.

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 1. Is moral behaviour about following rules or working things out for ourselves?

2. Are there unbreakable laws to govern moral behaviour, or should we make our own moral decisions?

3. Are there any situations when you should ignore established rules?
Task

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
Self-Assess.

What is Situation Ethics?

Only one rule: follow the most loving course of action. This is
known as the ‘Golden Rule’. It is a concept which comes from
Christianity because the person who coined the term ‘situation
ethics’ was a Christian (Joseph Fletcher).

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Watch the video.
Explain how does the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows Situation Ethic.
I think the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows Situation Ethics…
Video Task

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Pqw20xK10

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Task Situation Ethics:
- Choose two Bible stories from Only one rule: follow the most loving
course of action.
Reading Task.

your worksheet.

For each story you must:

1. Summaries the story

2. How is Situation Ethics shown in
the story?
3. What do the stories teach us
about the ‘Golden Rule’?

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Strengths
of
Situation Ethics
Self-Assess

1. Christian system – consistent with the teaching of Jesus.

2. It enables people to make tough decisions.

3. It emphasises love (agape) – surely everyone agrees that’s a good thing.

4. It avoids conflicts of duty as everyone is treated the same.

5. Where moral rules collide, Situation Ethics gives a way of resolving the conflict: love .

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Weaknesses of
Situation Ethics
Self-Assess

1. Christian system – atheists and those of other faiths might not want to follow the example
of Jesus.

2. It could allow for almost any action.

3. ‘Love’ is very subjective.

4. People naturally will disagree about what loving behaviour is.

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Situation Ethics in the Bible is very obvious:

Write down one quote and explain in your own words what
you think the quote means.
Task.

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all
your mind; and you must love your neighbour as yourself.“

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."

LO: To explain how Situation Ethics is used in the Bible.

Key Words: Ethics, Situation Ethics, Agape, Parable, Good Samaritan.
 Explain two reasons why Situation Ethics are important.
PEEL Paragraph.
Success criteria:
 Explain fully using PEEL paragraphs
 Include a religious teaching and key words
 Include an example
 Give clear points which link to the question
 Link your paragraph back to the question

P One reason why Situation ethics are important because…

10 minutes
For example… (give an example of what he did)
Two clear PEEL
E This means… (explain your point here) paragraph!
E Therefore, (link back to the question)
L To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
LO:
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 In situation ethics, right and wrong depend upon the situation.
There are no universal moral rules or rights - each case is unique and deserves
a unique solution. Situation ethics rejects 'prefabricated decisions and
prescriptive rules'. It teaches that ethical decisions should follow flexible
Exemplar

guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis.
So a person who practices situation ethics approaches ethical problems with
some general moral principles rather than a rigorous set of ethical laws and is
prepared to give up even those principles if doing so will lead to a greater
good.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

25
 LESSON 3– Utilitarianism
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA and self-Assess on slide 34
2. Read the background information on slide 35 and using a highlighter, zoom in on and
highlight any dates, times, places and key words which link to Utilitarianism.
3. Answer the questions on slide 36. Write the definition of Utilitarianism on slide 37.
4. Watch the video on slide 38 and complete the task on slide 38.
5. Read the feeding of the 5000 biblical story and complete the task set on slide 39.
The story can be found on slide 46.
6. Complete the PEEL paragraph on slide 40 and self-Assess on slide 41.
7. At the end, complete the review task on slide 42.
8. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR INTERNET
IS DOWN, COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’ QUESTIONS AT THE
BOTTOM OF EACH INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE TEXTBOOK. 26
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. Explain what Situation Ethics means.

2. How is Situation Ethics shown in the Bible?

3. Is Situation Ethics an ideal approach to making moral decision?

Explain your opinion.
 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
1. Explain what Situation Ethics means.
DNA Answers

Solving ethical problems using the ‘most loving’ course of action.

Known as ‘agape’ (unconditional love for humanity).

2. How is Situation Ethics shown in the Bible?

Jesus forgiving the adulterer, The man who wouldn’t forgive, The
parable of the Good Samaritan.

3. Is Situation Ethics an ideal approach to making moral decision?

Explain your opinion.
Explain your opinion here.

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
Background Information
Utilitarianism

What does the greatest happiness for the greatest number actually
mean? Is this something that we should consider? Will this make our
world a better place full of happy people? This is what utilitarianism
says. That any action we do, should think about consequences which
have the greatest amount of happiness and pleasure for the greatest
number of people.

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
Task

1. A moral world is one in which many people as possible are happy as they can be? Do you agree.

2. When making a moral decision, is it more important to think about the action you are performing,
or the consequence of that action?

3. “The good of the many outweighs the good of the few, or the one.” Do you agree?

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
 Utilitarianism is an ethical theory behind the
Self-Assess

justification ‘for the greater good’. The Theory

focuses on the ‘greatest happiness for the
greatest number of people’

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
 Watch the video
Task: Bullet point three more facts about utilitarianism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvmz5E75ZIA
Video Task

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
 Read the story of ‘The feeding of the 5000’

Task:

1. Read the story of the ‘Feeding

of the 5000’ from the Bible.
Task

2. Summaries the story in your

own words.

3. Explain how utilitarianism is

shown in the story.

LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.

Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
 Explain one reason why utilitarianism is a good theory for moral decision making.
PEEL Paragraph.

Success criteria:
 Explain fully using PEEL paragraphs
 Include a religious teaching and key words
 Include an example
 Give clear points which link to the question
 Link your paragraph back to the question

P One way that utilitarianism is a good theory for moral decision making is because…

For example… (give an example you can use to support your point)

E This means… (explain your point here) 10 minutes

E Therefore, (link back to the question) One clear PEEL

paragraph!
L LO: To explain how utilitarianism can be used to make moral decisions.
Key Words: Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Morals, Ethics, Agape, Greatest Happiness.
 In situation ethics, right and wrong depend upon the situation.
There are no universal moral rules or rights - each case is unique and deserves
a unique solution. Situation ethics rejects 'prefabricated decisions and
prescriptive rules'. It teaches that ethical decisions should follow flexible
Exemplar

guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis.
So a person who practices situation ethics approaches ethical problems with
some general moral principles rather than a rigorous set of ethical laws and is
prepared to give up even those principles if doing so will lead to a greater
good.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

36
 LESSON 4 – Designer Baby
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA task on slide 48 and self-assess slide 49.
2. Read the background information on slide 50 and using a highlighter, zoom in
on and highlight any times, places and key words which link to designer babies.
3. Watch the entire video ‘Designer baby’ Type in the BBC link into a web browser.
Complete the task on slide 52.
4. Read the information on slide 53 and answer the opinion question on slide 53.
5. At the end, complete the PEEL Paragraph on slide 54 and self-assess on slide 55
6. Review your learning by answering the questions on slide 56.
7. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR
INTERNET IS DOWN, COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’
QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE 38
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. What is Utilitarianism?

2. Give one example of how Utilitarianism is shown in the Bible.

3. Is Utilitarianism an ideal approach to making moral decision?

Explain your opinion.
 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
1. What is Utilitarianism?
DNA Answers

An ethical theory which seeks to create the greatest happiness for

the greatest number of people.

2. Give one example of how Utilitarianism is shown in the Bible.

The Feeding of the 5000.

3. Is Utilitarianism an ideal approach to making moral decision?

Explain your opinion.
Explain your opinion. Be prepared to share.

LO: To evaluate whether designer babies are ethical.

Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Designer Baby, Embryo, Gene.
Background Information
Designer Babies:
Designer babies - procedures that mostly involve checking embryos for disease, disorder or gender. It
may be possible in the future to select for other qualities such as strength, beauty or intelligence.
Procedures include:

•In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) happens outside the body, e.g. used when the parents are experiencing
fertility problems or when a genetic disorder might be passed on by the parents.

•Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) involves screening embryos at around three days old to check
for genetic disorders, e.g. cystic fibrosis. PGD can also be used to check embryos to see if any will be a
genetic match for a sibling who is already sick.

•Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) involves screening embryos to identify gender. In the UK, this
is only legal when used for medical reasons, e.g. with risk of a child inheriting a gender linked disease,
e.g. Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Designer babies is a huge ethical problem amongst many people in the UK and largely goes against
religious beliefs also.

LO: To evaluate whether designer babies are ethical.

Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Designer Baby, Embryo, Gene.
Write the definition

LO: To evaluate whether designer babies are ethical.

Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Designer Baby, Embryo, Gene.
 Watch the video
Task: Write down 5 or more facts.
Video Task.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TLsYJklM-8

LO: To evaluate whether designer babies are ethical.

Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Designer Baby, Embryo, Gene.
 An area for debate is what genetic disorders can a baby be
tested for during pregnancy. Pregnant women are routinely
offered screening for genetic disorders such as Down's
syndrome, but there is concern about the growing number of
tests.

Last year doctors aborted a foetus beyond 24 weeks' gestation

Task.

because the mother, taking advice from doctors, did not want a
baby with a cleft palate.

A cleft palate is not life threatening and usually is only a

cosmetic concern.
So should a foetus be aborted because they may look slightly
different from other children even though they are healthy? Or
are we saving the child from the torment of bullying due to its
differing looks?
LO: To evaluate whether designer babies are ethical.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Designer Baby, Embryo, Gene.
 Explain your opinion on whether a person should be able to
design their own baby.
PEEL Paragraph.

Success criteria:
 Explain fully using PEEL paragraphs
 Include a religious teaching and key words
 Include an example
 Give clear points which link to the question
 Link your paragraph back to the question

P One reason why a person should/should not be able to design

their own baby is… 10 minutes
For example… (give an example of what he did)
Two clear PEEL
E This means… (explain your point here) paragraph!
E Therefore, (link back to the question)
L To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
LO:
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 It is morally unacceptable to design your own baby as you are playing
God. Most religious believers would oppose this idea and ethical
philosophies would too. For example, Any ethical debate “will also
naturally run against practicalities like funding”, says The Independent.
Exemplar

Many patients are subject already to a postcode lottery in accessing

fertility treatment based on their local NHS funding, and “gene editing
could initially be out of reach for all but the richest”, adds the
newspaper. Acknowledging this problem, panel chair Professor Yeung
said that if funding inequalities “were to exacerbate social injustice, in
our view that would not be an ethical approach”.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

47
 LESSON 5 – Humanism.
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA on slide 61 and self-assess on slide 62.
2. Read the background information on slide 63 and highlight key points on
humanism including the meaning of it.
3. Complete the video Task on slide 64.Self-Assess on slide 65.
4. Complete the video task on slide 66 and answer the questions on slide 67.
5. At the end, complete the Written Task on slide 68.
6. Self-Assess on slide 69 and review your learning on slide 70.
7. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR
INTERNET IS DOWN, COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’
QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE
TEXTBOOK. 48
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. What is a designer baby?

2. Explain religious views about designer babies.

3. Are designer babies ethical? Explain your opinion.

 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA Answers

1. What is a designer baby?

Genetic makeup of the baby has been altered to eradicate genes or
defects.

2. Explain religious views about designer babies.

Most religions argue that it is wrong as it is almost like playing God.

3. Are designer babies ethical? Explain your opinion.

Explain your opinion – be prepared to share your answer.

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
Background Information
Humanism:

Throughout recorded history there have been non-religious people who have believed that
this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no
supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and
humanity. They have trusted to the scientific method, evidence, and reason to discover truths
about the universe and have placed human welfare and happiness at the centre of their
ethical decision making.

Today, people who share these beliefs and values are called humanists and this combination
of attitudes is called Humanism. Many millions of people in the UK share this way of living
and of looking at the world, but many of them have not heard the word ‘humanist’ and don’t
realise that it describes what they believe.

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
 Watch the video:
What do you think Humanism is?
Video Task.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j8jQkSydeo

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
 What is Humanism?

No superstition or belief in God.

Self-Assess

You are in charge of the world around you and

your own life.

People decide what is right and moral not God.

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
 Watch the 4 mini-animations narrated by Stephen Fry.
Task: Summaries what each video is about. You will be given 2 minutes to write
after every video.
Task

https://humanism.org.uk/thatshumanism/

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
 Probing questions:
• You said that...have you considered...?
1. What do you think about
Humanism? • Why do you think that?
• What evidence do you have for...?
2. It is a good thing? • What flaws are there in your argument?
• How might somebody who...respond to the point
3. Does it give people more
Task.

that...?

ownership, control and • How would you defend...?

responsibility?
Habits of great discussion:
4. Does having no belief in God • Positive body language (e.g. face the person you’re
change perspective? talking to, make eye contact).
• Provide full sentence, developed responses.
5. Why might this be a problem for
some people?

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using Humanism as a purpose for
moral decision making (5 marks)
Writing Task.

Firstly, the advantages of using Humanism for moral decision making are…
(explain 2 advantages).

On the other hand, the disadvantages of using Humanism for moral decision
making are… (explain 2 disadvantages).

Give an example of a moral decision in your answers.

LO: To evaluate whether Humanism is an effective approach to moral decision

making.
Self-Assess

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

58
 LESSON 6 – Design Argument.
Instructions:
1. Complete the DNA task on slide 75 and self-asses on slide 76.
2. Complete the background information on slide 77 and highlight key points on
what the design argument is.
3. Watch the video on slide 78 and complete the task on slide 78.
4. Complete the Task on slide 79 and complete the problem Task on slide 80. Using
slide 81-82.
5. Complete PEEL paragraph on slide 83 and self-assess on slide 84.
6. Review your learning by answering the questions on slide 85.
7. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR
INTERNET IS DOWN, COMPLETE THE ‘CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDNG’
QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE 59
 Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
DNA

1. What do Humanists believe about life?

2. Explain how Humanists respond to moral and ethical dilemmas?

3. Summaries what Stephen Fry says about Science and Religion.

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 DNA ANSWERS
Green Pen Reflection
Questions (knowledge recap from previous lessons)
1. What do Humanists believe about life?
DNA Answers

They do not believe in God, they believe that you only have one life
and there is no afterlife. Live life to its potential.

2. Explain how Humanists respond to moral and ethical dilemmas?

They argue that moral and ethical dilemmas should me solved by
people using rational decision making.

3. Summaries what Stephen Fry says about Science and Religion.

Religion is superstitious and science uses facts to prove existence
of everything.

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
Background Information
Teleology stems from the Greek word ‘telos’ meaning ‘end’ or ‘purpose’.
It is used in philosophy as an argument for the existence of God to suggest that their is
order and a purpose to the world.
The teleological argument is also known as the design argument.

It is based on observation of the apparent order, design and purpose in the universe and
the natural world to conclude that it is not the result of mere chance, but of design.
E.g. Changing seasons, intricate human body, life style of animals.

The evidence from design points to a designer and the argument concludes that the
designer is God.

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnoQZA8MA6A
Write down what William Paley’s argument is about.
Video Ta

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 Read William Paley’s watch theory.
Task

Summaries the theory in your book and

answer the questions from the worksheet.

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 What problems might
there be with Paley’s
Task.

watch theory?

LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.

Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 Richard Dawkins argues the

1 universe could have been

Self-Assess

generated by very small,

randomly generated steps.

Just because we’re

purpose-driven, doesn’t
mean the universe is.
LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.
Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 David Hume was highly critical of

2
analogical arguments.
Self-Assess

Using a watch (that we know

about) to explain the universe (that
we don’t know about) is DAFT.

We can’t apply an analogy about

something limited and imperfect to
something unlimited and perfect
LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.
Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 William Paley’s watching making theory is a good theory to explain the creation of
the world and existence of God.
Success criteria:
 Explain fully using PEEL paragraphs
 Include a religious teaching and key words
 Include an example
You do

 Give clear points which link to the question

 Link your paragraph back to the question

P This is a good theory because…

For example… (give an example you can use to support your point)

E This means… (explain your point here) 10 minutes

E Therefore, (link back to the question) One clear PEEL

paragraph!
L LO: To explain William Paley’s watch making theory.
Key Words: Philosophy, Design Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley.
 It is morally unacceptable to design your own baby as you are playing
God. Most religious believers would oppose this idea and ethical
philosophies would too. For example, Any ethical debate “will also
naturally run against practicalities like funding”, says The Independent.
Exemplar

Many patients are subject already to a postcode lottery in accessing

fertility treatment based on their local NHS funding, and “gene editing
could initially be out of reach for all but the richest”, adds the
newspaper. Acknowledging this problem, panel chair Professor Yeung
said that if funding inequalities “were to exacerbate social injustice, in
our view that would not be an ethical approach”.

LO: To define what ethics and morality mean and how they impact on moral decision making.
Key Words: Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Moral Decision Making.
 One thing I have learnt from this lesson is…
Review and Reflect

How does this link to what I already know?...

One thing I found difficult from this lesson is…

One question I have about this lesson is…

One thing I would like support with is…

70
 FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

The original argument from design (teleological) was by Saint

Thomas Aquinas way back in 1224!
The best example is probably by William Paley (1743-1805) who
also argued that God exists by looking at the design of the
Universe.
He said, imagine finding a watch in the street, if you had never
seen one before, on examining it, you would see the workings are
very complicated and there must have been a watchmaker who
designed and put it together. It hasn’t happened just by chance.

He then said, it’s the same when you look at the world. It could not
have been made by chance. It is so complicated yet everything
fits perfectly into place, someone had to design and make it and
that some one was God.

The
world
looks CHARLES DARWIN - THE THEORY
like it OF EVOLUTION
was
designed Darwin’s theory was that life
DNA etc evolved from simple structures,
Life is too complex and Everything in life has a cause. through a process of natural
too special to be an accident of Life itself must have been selection to create the complex
nature caused ……by God.
world that we live in.
It had nothing to do with God being the
designer.
Religious believers countered this view by saying
These that God started the process of evolution and
are knew what was going to happen and therefore was
three still the designer.
logical
reasons IN YOUR BOOK
for 1. Write the title ‘The Argument From Design For
believing The Existence of God.
in God
2. Draw a basic outline of the cross and write in the
three logical reasons for believing in God, as it is
shown above.
3. Who was the first person to explain the argument by design? State in your own words how
William Paley explained the design theory.
4. Why was Darwin’s theory of evolution a problem to a believer in the design theory?
5. How ( in two words) do scientists explain the origin of life & the Universe?
6. Imagine you are trying to persuade someone that the world was designed and so there
must be a designer. Write as many different reasons as you can think of (a,b,c, etc) to
support your argument.