Exam practice
There are various types of questions you may get asked:
- You may get asked to explain Kant's theory, or an aspect of it.
- You may be required to evaluate the theory or compare it to another theory.
- You may be asked to apply Kant's theory to one of the issues studied.
The following are AS exam questions written by OCR:
(a) Explain what Kant meant by ‘the Categorical Imperative’. [33]
(b) Assess critically Kant’s claims about the Categorical Imperative. [17]
(a) 'People should always do their duty.' Explain how Kant understood this concept. [33]
(b) 'The use of the Categorical Imperative makes no room for compassionate treatment of women who want abortions.' Discuss. [17]
This question is from January 2005:
(a) Explain Kant's theory of duty. [33]
(b) 'Kant's theory has no serious weaknesses.' Discuss. [17]
This AS question is from June 2005:
(a) Explain the main differences between Utilitarianism and the ethics of Kant. [33]
(b) 'Happiness is the most important consideration in ethics.' Discuss. [17]
These both came from the January 2006 paper:
(a) E xplain Kant’s theory of the Categorical Imperative. [33]
(b) How useful is the Categorical Imperative when considering embryo research? [17]
(a) Give an account of Kant’s ethical theory. [33]
(b) ‘Kant’s ethical theory is a good approach to euthanasia.’ Discuss. [17]
This question is from the June 2006 paper:
(a) Give an account of Kant’s theory of universal maxims. [33]
(b) ‘Kant’s ethical theory is too inflexible.’ Discuss. [17]
This AS question is from January 2007:
(a) Explain the Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives. [33]
(b) ‘It is always right to do one’s duty.’ Discuss. [17]
In June 2007, this question came up:
(a) ‘People should always do their duty.’ Explain how Kant understood this. [33]
(b) How useful is Kant’s theory of duty as a basis for morality? [17]
(taken from the OCR website - mark scheme included there)
The first time you answer an exam question, have your notes in front of you and take your time. Later, do it without notes there. Finally, try writing timed essays - each one (a and b) should take half an hour.
Here's part of a question to have a go at. Try it first, then click on it to see a sample answer:
Evaluate the argument that Kant’s moral theory could not support the idea of voluntary euthanasia.
We now have an interactive diagram showing how to answer an ethics exam question, The 'structure' of the paragraph will be different for 'ethical theory' questions, but the basic principles are the same. Try filling it in yourself and print out the completed diagram.
