Building and evaluating ethical arguments
Ethical disagreement is not just people feeling differently. Arguments have structures, and those structures can be examined, tested and improved.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Evaluate ethical arguments using reasons and evidence
Key learning points
- • Premises and conclusions
- • Three ways of judging actions
- • Testing an argument
- • Writing a balanced evaluation
This lesson at a glance
- 30 minutes
- 25 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 25
Visual introductionPicture this
Building and evaluating ethical arguments
Ethical disagreement is not just people feeling differently. Arguments have structures, and those structures can be examined, tested and improved.
In a nutshell
Evaluate ethical arguments using reasons and evidence
What you already know
Part 2 of 25
Before we start
What you already know
You should already be able to give a reason for a point of view.
Key words
Part 3 of 25
Key words
Words you'll need today
- Premise
- A reason offered in support of a conclusion.
- Consequentialism
- Judging actions by their outcomes.
- Duty-based ethics
- Judging actions by rules or duties regardless of outcome.
- Virtue
- A settled character trait such as honesty or courage.
Reset break
Part 4 of 25
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 5 of 25
Learning cycle 1 of 2
How ethical arguments work
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 6 of 25
Learn
Premises and conclusions
An argument moves from premises to a conclusion. To assess one, ask two separate questions: are the premises true, and do they actually support the conclusion? Many disagreements dissolve once the hidden premise is written down, because people often agree on principle and differ only about facts.
Explore the idea
Part 7 of 25
Learn
Three ways of judging actions
Consequentialist reasoning asks which action produces the best outcome overall. Duty-based reasoning asks whether the action follows a rule that should hold for everyone. Virtue reasoning asks what a person of good character would do. Religious traditions draw on all three, alongside sacred texts, authority and lived community practice.
Reset break
Part 8 of 25
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 9 of 25
Quick check
Part 10 of 25
Learning cycle
Part 11 of 25
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Testing and comparing them
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Reset break
Part 12 of 25
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 13 of 25
Learn
Testing an argument
Useful tests include looking for counter-examples, checking consistency by applying the principle to a similar case, and asking who is affected but absent from the discussion. Distinguish a factual claim, which evidence can settle, from a value claim, which requires reasoning about what matters.
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 25
Learn
Writing a balanced evaluation
Set out the strongest version of each side, not a weak caricature. Identify where they genuinely conflict, then give your judgement with your reasons. Acknowledging what your view costs is a strength: 'this protects freedom, but accepts some harm, which I think is justified because...' is more convincing than certainty.
Quick check
Part 15 of 25
Reset break
Part 16 of 25
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 17 of 25
Common mix-ups
Part 18 of 25
Common mix-ups
Things people often get wrong
- People often treat ethics as pure opinion. Arguments can be tested for consistency and evidence.
- People often present a weak version of the opposing view. Address its strongest form.
Challenge round
Part 19 of 25
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 20 of 25
Pause
That's sitting 5 of 6 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 21 of 25
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
An argument moves from ____ to a conclusion.
Distinguish a factual claim, which ____ can settle, from a value claim, which requires reasoning about what matters.
Identify where they genuinely conflict, then give your judgement with your ____.
Challenge round
Part 22 of 25
Game · Recall cards
A premise is...
Card 1 of 4
Exit quiz
Part 23 of 25
Exit quiz
Show what you've learned
6 questions, marked together at the end. Nothing is timed.
1. Duty-based ethics judges an action by...
2. Virtue ethics asks what...
3. A counter-example is used to...
4. Asking who is affected but absent helps reveal...
5. Acknowledging what your view costs makes it...
6. Religious ethical reasoning may draw on...
Mastery quiz
Part 24 of 25
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Building and evaluating ethical arguments
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. A premise is...
2. Consequentialism judges actions by...
3. Testing consistency means applying the principle to...
4. A factual claim differs from a value claim because it can be...
Lesson round-up
Part 25 of 25
Lesson round-up
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