Germany Jahrgangsstufe 11 Ethics
Chapters: 3
1. Philosophical views of the human being
Philosophical views of human nature
- Philosophical Anthropology: What Is a Human Being? – Philosophical anthropology asks what a human being is. The human is both the one who asks and the one studied (subject and object). Thinkers compare us with animals: some see a deep gap (reason, language, an open world), others only a difference of degree. Classic views call the human a rational animal, a union of body and mind (dualism) or one living being (monism), a social and cultural being, and, for existentialists, a free and unfinished being who makes itself through choices. Science and technology (evolution, brain research, AI) keep reopening the question.
2. Political ethics
Political ethics and the state
- Social Contract Theory: Why Do People Obey a Government? – Social contract theory says that a government gets its power from an agreement among the people, not from God or force. Thinkers imagine a 'state of nature' with no government, then ask what people would agree to. Hobbes said people give almost all power to a strong ruler for safety. Locke said government is limited and must protect life, liberty and property, or people may replace it. Rousseau said the people together are sovereign and the 'general will' should make the law.
3. Medical ethics
Medical ethics
- Bioethics: Deciding What Is Right in Biology and Medicine – Bioethics asks whether we should do what biology and medicine now let us do. It uses four principles: autonomy (respect choice), beneficence (do good), non-maleficence (do no harm) and justice (fairness). Human dignity means a person is never only a means to an end, so informed consent is needed. Therapeutic cloning may be allowed under strict rules; reproductive human cloning is banned in most countries. Start-of-life and end-of-life questions are weighed as benefits against risks and values.