Year 5 - Religious education
Humanism: deciding right from wrong
Humanists: How can you lead a happy and meaningful life?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will learn about the main beliefs of humanism. They will understand that humanists focus on reason and empathy to make moral decisions. Case studies will enable them to explore how humanists aim to live their one life as well and as meaningfully as they can.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how humanists make ethical decisions.
Key Notes
- Philosophers use thought experiments to explore solutions to big questions.
- Humanists look to reason and empathy to answer big questions.
- Humanists aim to promote happiness and reduce suffering when making ethical decisions.
Vocabulary To Learn
- thought experiment: a philosophical tool to test ideas in made-up scenarios
- ethical: part of philosophy; questions about living a good life and what is right and wrong
- consequences: the outcome of a choice or action
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Using empathy when making ethical decisions means that all humanists will reach the same conclusions.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Philosophers use thought experiments to explore solutions to big questions. Humanists look to reason and empathy to answer big questions.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'thought experiment'
a philosophical tool to test ideas in made-up scenarios.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Using empathy when making ethical decisions means that all humanists will reach the same conclusions. Correction: Humanists may reach different moral decisions as they feel empathy differently.
More Lessons In This Unit
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