Edexcel A-level Religious Studies (9RS0) · Religion and Ethics: Application of Ethical Theories
Mini-Lesson
Applying Ethical Theories
This lesson applies ethical theories to two issues on the specification: war and peace and sexual ethics.
You will learn the just war criteria and pacifism, then see how natural law, situation ethics and virtue ethics handle sex and relationships. Answer the questions and collect ⭐.
Just war
Just war theory
Rooted in Augustine and Aquinas, just war theory sets conditions under which war can be morally justified.
Jus ad bellum (right to go to war): just cause, legitimate authority, right intention, last resort, proportionality, reasonable chance of success.
Jus in bello (right conduct in war): proportionality of force, and discrimination — protecting non-combatants.
A modern addition is jus post bellum — justice after war.
Check
Ad bellum vs in bello
1"Non-combatants must not be deliberately targeted." This is a principle of:
Natural law can support just war (preserving life and ordering society) but forbids targeting the innocent.
Situation ethics asks only what agape requires here — it could justify or oppose a war case by case.
Check
Situation ethics and war
2How would situation ethics decide whether a war is justified?
Sexual ethics
Sexual ethics
Issues include pre-marital and extra-marital sex, contraception and homosexuality.
Natural law emphasises the reproductive precept: sex has a procreative purpose, so it traditionally restricts sex to heterosexual marriage.
Situation ethics judges each relationship by whether it expresses agape.
Virtue ethics asks whether conduct expresses virtues such as faithfulness, honesty and love.
Check
Natural law on sex
3Why does traditional natural law restrict the purpose of sex?
Contrast
Comparing the verdicts
On the same case — say a committed same-sex relationship — the theories can diverge sharply: natural law may object on procreative grounds, while situation ethics and virtue ethics may approve if the relationship expresses love, fidelity and other virtues. This shows how the method of a theory drives its conclusions.
Check
Method drives verdict
4Two theories reach opposite verdicts on the same case mainly because they:
Sort it
Which category?
Sort each principle into the correct category.
🛡️ Jus ad bellum
⚔️ Jus in bello
☮️ Pacifism
Match
Theory to stance on sexual ethics
Match each theory to how it approaches sexual ethics.
Statement
Answer
Recap
The big ideas to know
Just war: Jus ad bellum (going to war) and jus in bello (conduct); Augustine and Aquinas
Pacifism: Absolute vs contingent
Sexual ethics: Natural law (procreative), situation ethics (agape), virtue ethics (character)
Key skill: Show how a theory’s method drives its verdict
Strong answers apply theories precisely and weigh their conclusions. Press Finish.
🏆
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