Lesson designed for A-Level RS (EDUQAS) Component 3 - Ethics

1. E - Ethical Intuitionism
By the end of this lesson
you will have:
• Learnt the features of
ethical intuitionism
• Applied this to an Essay
• Considered the extent
to which ethical
intuitionism is a
response to ethical
naturalism

3. Spec Check
AO1 AO2
Objective moral laws exist independently
of human beings; moral truths can be
discovered by using our minds in an
intuitive way; intuitive ability is innate
and the same for all moral agents;
intuition needs a mature mind so not
infallible; allows for objective moral
values. H.A Prichard; ‘ought to do’ has no
definition; recognition of what we ‘ought
to do’ by intuition; two ways of thinking
(general and moral)
* The extent to which ethical statements
are not objective.
* Whether moral terms are intuitive.
Challenges: No proof of moral intuition
exists; intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely;
no obvious way to resolve conflicting
intuitions

4. Starter - Cryptogram
• Complete the cryptogram on intuitionism on
page 39
• THEN: Discuss with your partner – what is
intuitionism?

5. Intuitionism - Task
• Read workbook pages 40&41 on intuitionism
and make notes on an A3 sheet of paper
• What do you think ethical intuitionism is?
• How is it different to Naturalism?

6. Moore’s Intuitionism
• Ethical values can’t be defined – e.g. I can’t say ‘it is wrong
to kill’
• However, there are moral truths which are self-evident –
our intuition (gut instinct) (Objective moral laws exist
independently of human beings)
• We discover these truths by reasoning and thinking about
situations. (moral truths can be discovered by using our
minds in an intuitive way)
• These truths are objective and exist independently of
human beings – which just can’t make statements out of
them. They are true for everyone.
• E.G everyone’s intuition teaches them that murder is wrong

7. Moore’s Intuitionism
• Moore’s evidence for this is that people tend to
have the same gut feeling (or intuition) about
certain moral truths. (intuitive ability is innate
and the same for all moral agents)
• Therefore, some things are intrinsically right or
wrong
• When you ask a group of people ‘what is good’
they have a similar intuition, but commit a fallacy
if they start trying to define good in words
• For Moore, good is indefinable.

8. Moore’s Intuitionism
• However, Moore does concede that whilst moral
truths are OBJECTIVE and most people have a
mind mature enough to understand their
intuition, not everyone has the ability to access
their intuition (intuition needs a mature mind so
not infallible)
• E.g Children or people with mental disturbances
can’t access their intuition.
• This doesn’t mean that the moral truth doesn’t
exist, it just means not everyone can access it

9. Prichard’s Intuitionism
• Prichard agreed with Moore on the basis of
humans having an intuition which reveals
moral truths
• TASK: Read Page 52 of your reading log on
Prichard and draw a Venn diagram which
represents the similarities and differences
between Prichard’s and Moore’s ideas

10. H.A Prichard
• Agrees that no definition can be made of ‘ought’
• Agrees that we all recognise the properties of ‘good’
• Believed there were two types of thinking ; reason and
intuition
• Reason = looks at the facts of a situation
• Intuition = shows us where our moral obligation lies
• So Intuition helps us answer moral truths, and reason
helps us answer other worldly truths
• H.A Prichard; ‘ought to do’ has no definition;
recognition of what we ‘ought to do’ by intuition; two
ways of thinking (general and moral)

11. Essay Planning
• Using your essay planning booklet, let’s plan:
• ‘Explain Ethical Intuitionism’ (20)

12. Spec Check
AO1 AO2
Objective moral laws exist independently
of human beings; moral truths can be
discovered by using our minds in an
intuitive way; intuitive ability is innate and
the same for all moral agents; intuition
needs a mature mind so not infallible;
allows for objective moral values. H.A
Prichard; ‘ought to do’ has no definition;
recognition of what we ‘ought to do’ by
intuition; two ways of thinking (general
and moral)
* The extent to which ethical statements
are not objective.
* Whether moral terms are intuitive.
Challenges: No proof of moral intuition
exists; intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely;
no obvious way to resolve conflicting
intuitions

13. Reading & Writing
• Read pages 41 and 52 of your textbook
• Each pair will be given a title to write a paragraph
on.
• No proof of moral intuition exists
• Intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely
• No obvious way to resolve conflicting intuitions

14. No proof of moral intuition exists
• Intuitionism may be considered meaningless
as it is non-verifiable.
• We can’t actually prove empirically that
intuitions exist
• This might mean people are reluctant to
believe intuitionism
• This undermines its validity and its objectivity

15. Intuitive truths differ widely
• In practise, children or people with mental
difficulties may not be able to access their
intuition
• Indeed, even adults of mature minds can have
differing intuitions
• These can be influenced by religion and
culture
• This makes it a challenge because it
undermines the objectivity and validity

16. No way to resolve conflicting intuitions
• Some people have different intuitions as to what
is right or wrong, despite us all apparently having
access to an objective truth through intuition
• If two people have differing intuitions, how do
you prove who is right or wrong.
• This could create conflict of opinion
• For example, some people’s intuitions believe sex
before marriage is wrong, others tells them it is
okay…how do we know who is right?

17. Spec Check
AO1 AO2
Objective moral laws exist independently
of human beings; moral truths can be
discovered by using our minds in an
intuitive way; intuitive ability is innate and
the same for all moral agents; intuition
needs a mature mind so not infallible;
allows for objective moral values. H.A
Prichard; ‘ought to do’ has no definition;
recognition of what we ‘ought to do’ by
intuition; two ways of thinking (general
and moral)
* The extent to which ethical statements
are not objective.
* Whether moral terms are intuitive.
Challenges: No proof of moral intuition
exists; intuitive ‘truths’ can differ widely;
no obvious way to resolve conflicting
intuitions

18. AO2
• ‘Ethical statements are not objective’. Discuss
•
• ‘Moral terms are intuitive’. Discuss
• Write a point for and against the statement on
your post it – and stick it on the board
• Come and read other responses on the board
• Complete an AO2 plan for one of these questions,
in your lean learning sheet also