ETHICS - Theme 2: Deontological Ethics Bernard Hoose’s Proportionalism By the end of today’s lesson you will: Understand the Hoose’s proportionalism as a hybrid of deontological and teleological ethics. Be able to distinguish between an evil moral act and a pre-moral/ontic evil act Be able to distinguish between a right act and a good act Have evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of proportionalism. Skills Focus AO1 – knowledge and understanding skills Specialist language and vocabulary AO2 – Evaluation skills Essay structure Literacy

Spec Check – Component 3: Ethics Theme 2: Deontological Ethics AO1- Knowledge and understanding of religion and belief As a hybrid of Natural Law, a deontological / teleological ethic Hoose’s proportionalist maxim (‘it is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it’) Distinction between an evil moral act (an immoral act) and a pre-moral/ontic evil act (a bad act that in itself is not immoral) Distinction between a right act (an act that follows the moral rule) and a good act (an act that is not a right act, but creates the lesser of two evils) Proportionality based on agape.

What is proportionalism? Hoose’s proportionalist maxim: “It is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it.” (Bernard Hoose, Proportionalism) The proportionate reason is based on the context or situation but this situation must be sufficiently unusual and of significant magnitude to provide a reason which would overturn what would otherwise be a firm rule.

What is proportionalism? “It is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it.” (Bernard Hoose, Proportionalism) How is this approach seen as a hybrid of deontological and teleological ethics?

What is proportionalism? “It is never right to go against a principle [deontological] unless there is a proportionate reason which would justify it. [teleological]” (Bernard Hoose, Proportionalism) How is this approach seen as a hybrid of deontological and teleological ethics?

Natural Law and Proportionalism Task 1 – THINK-PAIR-SHARE Why wouldn’t a follower of Natural Law allow the following? Contraception Abortion IVF Capital punishment Euthanasia Cheating Lying

Natural Law and Proportionalism Task 2 – THINK-PAIR-SHARE Give a proportionate reason why the following could be justified: Contraception Abortion IVF Capital punishment Euthanasia Cheating Lying

Learning Check … By the end of today’s lesson you will: Understand the Hoose’s proportionalism as a hybrid of deontological and teleological ethics. Be able to distinguish between an evil moral act and a pre-moral/ontic evil act Be able to distinguish between a right act and a good act Have evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of proportionalism. Skills Focus AO1 – knowledge and understanding skills Specialist language and vocabulary AO2 – Evaluation skills Essay structure Literacy

Evil moral acts and pre-moral/ontic evil acts Natural Law Proportionalism There are evil moral acts – in other words immoral acts. These acts are intrinsically evil on the basis of the act itself (regardless of the intentions, situation or consequences) E.g.? There are pre-moral evil acts – doing an act before acquiring moral responsibility. There are ontic evil acts – acts that cause pain or suffering. In both of the above, the act may be bad, BUT in itself is not immoral.

Right Acts Versus Good Acts Proportionalism distinguishes between ‘right acts’ and ‘good acts’. Discuss with your ‘elbow buddy’ what these terms mean. Give an example of how an act can be ‘wrong’ but ‘good’. How does this idea link to pre-moral/ontic evil acts? Right act =follows the moral rules. Good act = May break the rules, but is seen as the lesser of two evils. E.g. Plotting to kill Hitler (wrong act) in order to save millions of people (good act)

Proportionalism based on agape Agape – unconditional selfless love. A ‘good act’ is one that is based on love – it has a loving end. However, love cannot make a ‘wrong act’ ‘right’. “An action born of love can be wrong, while an action not resulting from love can be right.” (Hoose)

Learning Check … By the end of today’s lesson you will: Understand the Hoose’s proportionalism as a hybrid of deontological and teleological ethics. Be able to distinguish between an evil moral act and a pre-moral/ontic evil act Be able to distinguish between a right act and a good act Have evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of proportionalism. Skills Focus AO1 – knowledge and understanding skills Specialist language and vocabulary AO2 – Evaluation skills Essay structure Literacy

Strengths and Weaknesses of Proportionalism Think – Pair - Share

AO2 (Part b) - Evaluation “Hoose’s proportionalism is an effective way of dealing with ethical dilemmas.” Evaluate this view. [30 marks] PESEL Point – make a point. Agree / disagree. Explain – explain that point Support – support the point using evidence, scholars views, reasoning or examples Evaluate – evaluate the point – “This is a strong/weak point because …” Link – connect the paragraph to the question. AO2 Level 7 Criteria Critical analysis and perceptive evaluation Identifies and addresses the issues Clear views given, supported by extensive, detailed reasoning and/or evidence Views of scholars/schools of thought used extensively. Specialist vocabulary is used accurately           

Pre-moral/ontic evil act Plenary 1 Point 2 Points 3 Points Hoose Agape Pre-moral/ontic evil act Deontological Right act Hybrid Teleological Good act Proportionalism 3 minutes