IB Group 3 Philosophy, Optional Themes, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion

What This Is and Why It Matters for IB

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with what is right and wrong, good and bad. It appears in the IB syllabus under Group 3: Individuals and Societies (Paper 2: Ethics) and Core: TOK (Area of Knowledge: Human Sciences). Students often get this wrong by failing to distinguish between descriptive ethics (what people believe) and normative ethics (what should be believed). Losing marks: failing to identify the type of ethics being discussed.

Where It Appears in the IB Syllabus

• Group 3: Individuals and Societies, Paper 2: Ethics (40% of the total marks)
• Core: TOK, Area of Knowledge: Human Sciences (TOK essay, presentation, or seminar)

Key Command Terms

• Analyse: Break down complex ideas into smaller parts to understand their relationships.
• Evaluate: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of an argument or idea.
• Discuss: Present and defend a point of view using evidence and reasoning.
• Compare and contrast: Identify similarities and differences between two or more ideas.

Step-by-Step Understanding

1. Recall the main types of ethics: Descriptive ethics (what people believe), normative ethics (what should be believed), and metaethics (the nature of ethics).
2. Understand the key concepts: Moral absolutism, moral relativism, and consequentialism.
3. Avoid common misconceptions:
   • Slippery slope fallacy: assuming that one action will inevitably lead to another.
   • Appeal to authority: using an authority's opinion as evidence.
4. Apply the concept to an exam question:
   • Identify the type of ethics being discussed.
   • Analyze the arguments for and against.
   • Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument.

Assessment Criteria Connection

Real Student Mistakes

1. Student mistake: Failing to identify the type of ethics being discussed.
   • What the student did: Analyzed the arguments for and against without specifying the type of ethics.
   • Why it lost marks: Failing to demonstrate a clear understanding of the key concepts and types of ethics.
   • What the correct approach should be: Identify the type of ethics being discussed and analyze the arguments accordingly.
2. Student mistake: Failing to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments.
   • What the student did: Presented a point of view without evaluating the opposing arguments.
   • Why it lost marks: Failing to demonstrate a clear understanding of the key concepts and types of ethics.
   • What the correct approach should be: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments.

Exam Technique (Paper-specific)

• Timing allocation: Allocate 20-30 minutes to analyze and evaluate the arguments.
• How to structure a response: Use a clear and concise introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Linking to command terms: Use the command terms to guide your analysis and evaluation.

Internal Assessment / Extended Essay Relevance

This topic connects to the Extended Essay (EE) in the following ways: * Research question formulation: Use the concepts and types of ethics to formulate a research question. * Data collection: Collect data on the application of different types of ethics in real-world scenarios. * Reflection: Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of different types of ethics.

TOK Connections (if applicable)

This topic connects to the Ways of Knowing (WoK) in the following ways: * Empirical evidence: Use empirical evidence to support or challenge different types of ethics. * Logical reasoning: Use logical reasoning to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments. * Personal perspective: Use personal perspective to reflect on the application of different types of ethics in real-world scenarios.

Quick Check (Self-Assessment Questions)

1. What are the main types of ethics?
   • Model answer: Descriptive ethics, normative ethics, and metaethics.
2. What is the difference between moral absolutism and moral relativism?
   • Model answer: Moral absolutism is the belief that certain actions are always right or wrong, while moral relativism is the belief that morality is relative to the culture or society.
3. How do you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments?
   • Model answer: Identify the key concepts and types of ethics, analyze the arguments, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument.

Revision Card (60-Second Summary)

• Types of ethics: Descriptive, normative, and metaethics.
• Key concepts: Moral absolutism, moral relativism, and consequentialism.
• Assessment criteria: AO1: Knowledge and understanding, AO2: Analysis and evaluation.
• Command terms: Analyze, evaluate, discuss, and compare and contrast.
• Real-world application: Use the concepts and types of ethics to analyze and evaluate real-world scenarios.

If You Get Stuck

• What to review first: Review the key concepts and types of ethics.
• Who to ask: Ask your teacher or a study group member for help.
• How to approach an exam question: Identify the type of ethics being discussed, analyze the arguments, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument.

Related IB Topics

• Philosophy of religion: Connects to the concept of moral absolutism and moral relativism.
• Political philosophy: Connects to the concept of consequentialism and the application of ethics in real-world scenarios.
• Human sciences: Connects to the concept of empirical evidence and the use of data to support or challenge different types of ethics.