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Look at this famous painting what s missing? What could YOU deduce about the value of human life from this picture? If there is no God then.
If there is NO GOD then. Do we have intrinsic worth / value? Is our life still precious? (even if we don t believe in the religious concept Sanctity of Life) Does our higher consciousness make us more valuable than animals? How do we measure the quality and value of life if we don t look to religion? Are all human beings of equal value? We no longer need holy prophets/leaders, religious rules / holy teachings.. No guilty hang ups that we have sinned and will have eternal damnation in hell. Our lives are not given by God.. And taken away by God (Sanctity of Life)
Human beings have to AQUIRE value / worth. Therefore value is not INTRINSIC ( belonging to a thing by its very nature) BUT EXTRINSIC (not essential or inherent; not a basic part or quality) No person has any value beyond that which they EARN in a system created by others (society). Value / worth can be given or taken away at any time and can vary from time to time and place to place.
UTILITARIANISM What can you remember? Who are the two key people behind utilitarianism? What are the two TYPES of utilitarianism? Which person devised ACT utilitarianism? What was Bentham's famous quotation? What do the following words mean~ Hedonism? Consequentialism? Teleological? Deontological? Utility?
* *Human beings are motivated by pleasure and pain. *He is thus a Hedonist. He believes that pleasure is the ultimate motivation. *Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters *pain and pleasure
* *All humans pursue pleasure and seek to avoid pain. *This is a moral fact because pleasure and pain identify what is a good or a bad action *For humans the sole good is pleasure and the sole evil is pain. *For this reason Bentham s Utilitarianism is called Hedonic Utilitarianism.
* *Once Bentham identified pleasure and pain as the important qualities for identifying what is moral he developed the Utility Principle *The rightness or wrongness of an action is judged by its utility or usefulness to produce pleasure. *because pleasure produces a feeling of happiness it is used interchangeably in the utility principle. *The action that produces the most happiness is the most moral.
* Often expressed as, the greatest good of the greatest number. The greatest happiness of the greatest number. Good = happiness or pleasure. So, an act is right or wrong according to the good or bad results that results from the act and the good act is the most pleasurable. Quantitative= focuses on the greatest number.
So HOW does UTILITARIANISM fit in with SECULAR human value? Act utilitarianism does not need God to endorse it s ethical theory. Human life is VALUABLE and has QUALITY if humans are A person who brings happiness to society is VALUED. As they are a happiness making resource!!! A person who is happy is VALUED If you are not happy or don't contribute towards societies happiness you are of NO VALUE to society!
HUMANISM and the value of Life Humanism affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all humanity including future generations. Amsterdam Declaration 2002 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_vsdoxtvu What is secular humanism? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du65koacsau 5 people give their definition of humanism (2.5 mins) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aewmj_3ustc Richard Dawkins and atheism (8.31)
Examine ideas which can be found in SECULAR thinking about the value of human life. A01 (45) What s the COMMAND word? What does EXAMINE actually mean??? Use Knowledge and Understanding Unpack the concepts Explain with reasons, examples, illustrations. Compare and contrast ~ point out the differences
DON T just list secular perspectives
You have 5 mins to explain SECULAR value with your partner. You will be sharing your answer with the rest of the group.
Examine ideas which can be found in secular thinking about the value of human life. A01 (45) What do we mean by VALUE of human life? Value / worth is EXTRINSIC given by Society. ACT Utilitarianism.. greatest happiness of the greatest number if you instigate happiness you are of WORTH / VALUE to society. Humanism affirms that every human being has worth and dignity.
Use the information provided to outline an essay plan.
Examine ideas which can be found in secular thinking about the value of human life. 45 marks AO1 (approx. 55 mins.)