Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Rivers.

I'm glad you chose this lesson, and I'm looking forward to working with you.

I'll be helping you with your learning today.

This lesson is from the unit Ethics: How do we decide what is good? And the lesson title is Humanist Values.

This lesson is about the ethical choices that are made by people with non-religious worldviews, such as humanists.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain how humanists decide what is good.

The key words for today's lesson are: ethical, that's relating to moral principles that shape behaviour, reason, that means to think about something in a logical way, empathy, that means to understand and share someone else's feelings, and humanist, a person with a non-religious worldview based on humanist values.

We'll be using these key words all through the lesson.

So pause the video and take a moment to look at them and become familiar with them.

This lesson is about humanist values and the ethical codes that people with a non-religious worldview might choose to follow.

How do humanists decide what is good? This lesson uses the discipline of philosophy.

Sofia explains how we use philosophy in religious education.

She says, philosophy is the study of what we know and how we know it.

Philosophers ask questions about how people think or reason about the world around them, and how we can know what is real.

We can better understand worldviews by using philosophical tools like thought experiments, critical thinking, and reasoning.

In this lesson, we'll be exploring humanist ethics, and this will help us to better understand non-religious worldviews.

Andeep and Aisha are having a conversation about non-religious worldviews.

Andeep says, "I wonder how people with non-religious worldviews decide what is good.

Do they think about ethics?" Aisha says, "I would like to know if people with non-religious worldviews have rules to follow.

How do they make ethical choices without a holy book to guide them?" How do you think Aisha and Andeep might go about finding answers to their questions? Would you be able to answer their questions? Pause the video and think about how you might answer these questions that Aisha and Andeep are asking.

If there's someone near you, you might want to share your ideas with them.

This lesson is about ethics and ethical choices.

Who has the correct definition of ethics? Aisha says, "Ethics is about making choices using a non-religious approach or worldview." Andeep says, "Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles and behaviour." Pause the video while you decide whose definition is the best.

That's right, Andeep had the correct definition of ethics.

It's the branch of philosophy that's all about moral choices and moral principles.

Ethics can apply to religious and non-religious points of view, so Aisha wasn't quite right with her answer.

Well done if you said that Andeep got the answer correct.

So Aisha and Andeep were wondering where people with a non-religious worldview get their ethical ideas from.

And Andeep has a suggestion.

He says, "I think we need to ask someone with a non-religious worldview where their ethical ideas come from." Aisha has an idea too.

She says, "Humanists have a non-religious worldview.

Maybe we should ask them." Humanist was one of our key words.

A humanist is someone with a non-religious worldview.

Here is a list of some of the things that are important to humanists.

A humanist is someone who might trust science to understand how the universe works.

A humanist might not believe in God.

A humanist might make ethical decisions based on reason, empathy, and a concern for others.

A humanist might not believe in an afterlife.

Humanist might focus on seeking happiness in this life for themselves and others.

On the left of the slide, you can see the symbol of the happy human.

This symbol is used by some humanists to represent their non-religious worldview.

Diane is a humanist.

She has a non-religious worldview.

Aisha wants to ask her some questions about rules and ethical choices.

Aisha asks, "How do you make ethical choices? Do you have a book of rules to follow?" Diane explains that humanist ethical choices don't come from a holy book or a book of rules.

They're human values.

She says, "Humanists believe that everything humans need to know about right and wrong is already inside us.

We do not have a holy book or religious rules to guide our ethical choices.

We think deeply about what makes the world a better place." Aisha wants to know more about how Diane decides what's good.

She asks, "Do you have any humanist principles or values to help you to decide what is good?" Diane says, "For me, an important humanist principle is connection to others.

My actions will affect people in my family and community, so I use empathy to imagine how people might feel.

I try to choose actions that make other people happy and reduce their suffering." Diane uses that key word, empathy, to describe how she makes ethical choices.

Empathy is about trying to understand how other people feel.

So Diane uses empathy to think about whether people are happy or whether they are suffering.

She wants her actions to make people around her happy.

Brandon is also a humanist.

He has a non-religious worldview too.

And Andeep is asking him about his humanist principles.

Let's see if his ideas are similar to or different from Diane's.

Andeep asks, "Where do your ethical ideas come from?" Brandon says, "As a humanist, my morals and ethical ideas are based on reason.

I think logically about what is right and wrong and take time to consider the consequences.

I use reason to make sure that my actions don't hurt others." So Brandon uses that keyword, reason, to help him to think about his ethical choices.

Reason is about thinking logically when you make decisions.

Brandon thinks logically about the consequences of his actions and about what is right and wrong.

He uses reason to consider whether his actions will hurt others or not, and then tries to make choices that don't hurt other people around him.

So here's a quick check.

True or false.

Humanists make ethical decisions based on reason and empathy.

Pause the video while you decide whether that is true or false, and think about the reasons for your answer.

That's right, the answer is true.

Humanists do use empathy and reason to make ethical decisions that make other people happy.

Well done if you chose the right answer.

Andeep has another question for Brandon.

He asks, "How do humanist principles or values help you to decide what is good?" Brandon explains some of the values that are important to him.

He says, "Some important humanist values are: happiness, freedom, love, respect, fairness, justice, and honesty.

These values make the world a better place.

I want the consequences of my ethical decisions to lead to one or more of these values." Nell is also a humanist with a non-religious worldview.

Aisha wants to ask Nell about her humanist principles.

She wants to know where Nell's ethical ideas come from.

Nell says, "I am interested in how science and reason help us to understand the world.

Humanists try to promote happiness and reduce suffering in the one life we have.

We need to listen to what scientists tell us about the world." So Nell's answer includes some of the things that are important to humanists when they're making choices.

One important thing is basing their ethical choices on science and reason.

Another important humanist principle is that they believe they have just one life, and they should make the most of it by learning as much as they can about the world around them.

So Aisha wants to know how Nell applies these humanist principles or values to help her to decide what is good.

How does her understanding of science and her wish to make the most of her one life affect her choices? Nell answers, "Scientists tell us about the damaging consequences of some human actions on the world.

As a humanist, I need to make ethical choices in how I care for the earth and use its resources based on scientific understanding.

So Nell explains that her understanding of science and what scientists say affect her ethical choices, and she makes choices to care for the earth and use its resources carefully.

Here's a quick check.

Which of these would not be true of a humanist? A, they use reason to make ethical decisions.

B, they must follow religious rules.

C, they wanna make themselves and others happy.

D, they consider the consequences of their actions.

Pause the video while you think about which one of those is not true of a humanist.

That's right, the answer is B.

Most humanists don't feel that they must follow religious rules.

Well done if you chose that answer.

Here's a task.

Do you remember that humanist symbol of the happy human? For this task, I'd like you to draw the humanist symbol.

And then around it, write some humanist values and principles.

Use the case studies of Dianne, Brandon, and Nell, and give examples from the lesson of humanist principles and values.

Pause the video while you complete the task.

How did you get on with picking out and describing some humanist principles? You might have said something like this.

One humanist principle is empathy.

And an example is that Diane imagines how her actions will make others happy.

Another principle is reason.

Brandon uses reason to make sure his actions don't hurt others.

Humanists think science is important.

Scientific ideas about environmental damage help Nell to care for the earth.

And connection is important to Diane and Brandon as they think about the consequences of their actions on people around them.

I wonder what humanist principles you picked out and what examples you found to describe them.

Well done for working hard on the task.

The second part of the lesson considers how humanists supply their values to help them to make ethical choices.

How might humanists make ethical decisions? Aisha and Andeep are having a conversation about humanists and their ethical choices.

They would like to understand more about how humanists make ethical decisions.

Aisha says, "I understand that humanists believe that humans do not need God or religious rules to know about right and wrong.

I wonder if that means all humanists make ethical decisions in the same way?" Andeep has a good idea.

He says, "Let's ask some humanists to help us to answer that question." Wendy wants to know how Diane's humanist worldview helps her to make choices.

He asks, "can you give an example of a time when you used humanist principles to make an ethical decision?" Diane says, "The humanist principle of connection with others is important to me.

This is why I volunteer at our community cafe.

Sometimes people who are lonely come the cafe for a cup of tea and a chat." Diane explains more about her volunteering at the cafe and how it demonstrates her humanist principles.

She says, "Whilst I'm at the cafe, I apply the humanist principle of empathy.

I remember when I lived on my own and how that feels.

When I chat to people, I am treating them as I wanted to be treated.

This is how I put my humanist values into action." So you can see in the illustration that Diane is helping at the cafe, but she's also chatting to the people who've come into the cafe because she thinks it's really important to help people who might be lonely.

She imagines how they might be feeling, and she's trying to treat them the way she wanted to be treated at a time when she was feeling lonely.

So you can see that she is applying the humanist principle of empathy as she connects with the people around her.

Here's a quick check to see if you've understood that key word, empathy.

Which of these is the best definition of empathy? Is it A, to think deeply about things, B, to understand and share someone else's feelings, or C, to feel sad about something that has happened? Pause the video while you think about the answer.

That's right, the answer is B.

Empathy is about understanding and sharing someone else's feelings.

Well done if you picked that one out.

Aisha wants to know more about how Brandon makes ethical decisions.

She asks, "Can you give an example of a time when you used humanist principles to make an ethical decision?" Brandon answers, "Humanists want to reduce the suffering of people around them.

We are all responsible for the lives and happiness of other people in our communities and around the world.

This is why I give to charities that support these principles." Brandon explains more about how giving to charity demonstrates his humanist values.

He says, "I put humanist values into action by giving to charities that help people in need.

I reason that we should share resources because we all live on this earth.

We can't live our own lives while others live in poverty." So Brandon has used the humanist value of reason to work out that it's not fair if some people live in poverty while others have plenty.

His humanist values prompt him to give to charities that help people in need, at home and around the world.

Andeep wants some examples from Nell about how her humanist worldview affects her actions.

He asks, "Can you give an example of a time when you used humanist principles to make an ethical decision?" Nell answers, "Humanists use scientific reasoning to make choices.

This is an important humanist principle.

Science tells us that waste causes damage to the environment, so I reuse and recycle to produce as little waste as possible." So Nell explains that her scientific understanding of damage to the environment helps her to make practical choices about reusing and recycling.

Nell explains more about how her humanist principles help her to care for the earth.

She says, "I apply reason to my choices.

I reason that caring for the Earth brings the greatest benefit to most people in the long run.

I put my humanist principles into action by learning as much as I can about how humans can care for our planet." So Nell explains that a humanist principle is to help as many people as possible.

She reasons that we can help the most people by caring for the earth.

So that's what she tries to do.

Here's a quick check.

True or false.

Humanists make ethical decisions based on what suits them personally.

Pause the video while you think about whether that is true or false, and give some reasons for your answer.

That's right, the answer is false.

Humanists don't make ethical decisions based on what suits them as an individual.

They use empathy and reason to make ethical decisions that help as many people as possible.

Well done if you picked the right answer and thought of a good reason.

So here's a task to do.

We've met Diane and Brandon and Nell, and we've heard about their humanist values and their ethical choices.

The task is to choose two of these case studies.

Draw an illustration of an action that demonstrates their ethical decisions as a humanist, and then explain how their actions link to their humanist values.

Pause the video while you complete your task.

I wonder which case studies you chose.

I've chosen Diane and Nell.

And I've done some illustrations to remind myself of the choices and ethical decisions they make.

And here are my explanations.

Diane volunteers in the cafe and befriends people who are lonely.

This demonstrates the humanist value of empathy.

Nell follows scientific understanding and tries to reduce waste by recycling and reusing things.

This demonstrates the humanist principle of using science and reason to make decisions.

I wonder what explanations you gave.

Did you manage to use some keywords? Did you include any other ideas in your answers? Well done for working hard on the task.

Here's a summary of what we've learned in this lesson.

Humanism is a non-religious worldview.

Humanists believe that ideas of right and wrong are human values that everyone can understand and follow.

They have no need for religious rules.

Humanists use reason and empathy to decide what is good and to make ethical choices.

Humanists aim to promote happiness and reduce suffering for themselves and the people around them.

Well done for working hard in this lesson.

I've enjoyed working with you.