📚 Year 10 CIE Philosophy: Case Study Practice Walkthrough | Year 10 CIE 哲学：案例分析实战演练
In CIE IGCSE Philosophy, case study questions invite you to move beyond textbook definitions and apply ethical theories to real‑world scenarios. This practical walkthrough will show you exactly how to analyse a moral dilemma step by step, structure your response, and earn top marks. We will use a classic ethical puzzle to illustrate the process, then equip you with strategies that work for any case study.
在 CIE IGCSE 哲学考试中，案例分析题要求你超越教科书定义，将伦理理论应用到真实情境中。本文将通过一个经典道德难题，带你一步步演练分析方法、组织答题结构，并掌握适用于任何案例的高分策略。
1. Understanding the Case Study Format | 理解案例分析题型
Case study questions in CIE Philosophy typically present a short narrative describing a moral conflict. You are then asked to discuss how different ethical theories would evaluate the situation, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and reach a justified conclusion. The mark scheme rewards clarity of thought, accurate use of philosophical terminology, and balanced evaluation, not merely describing the theories.
CIE 哲学试卷中的案例分析题通常会给出一个简短的道德困境叙述，要求你从不同伦理理论的角度进行评价，比较其优劣，并得出有理有据的结论。评分标准看重的是思路清晰、哲学术语使用准确以及均衡的评价，而不仅仅是复述理论内容。
Many students make the mistake of treating the case as an afterthought, dumping pre‑memorised paragraphs about Utilitarianism or Kantian ethics without linking them to the specific details. The key is to weave the case facts into every analytical point. This walkthrough will help you develop that skill.
很多学生容易把案例当作附加内容，只是堆砌提前背好的功利主义或康德伦理学段落，却未与案例细节建立联系。关键是要把案例事实融入每一个分析点。这次演练将帮助你培养这种能力。
2. The Scenario: The Runaway Trolley | 案例情境：失控的电车
Imagine a runaway trolley is hurtling down a railway track. Ahead, five people are tied up and unable to move. You are standing next to a lever. If you pull the lever, the trolley will switch to a side track where one person is tied up. The five would be saved, but the single person would die. You must decide within seconds. This dilemma, known as the trolley problem, captures a profound ethical conflict: is it right to actively cause one death to prevent five?
想象一辆失控的电车正沿着铁轨疾驰。前方有五人被绑在轨道上无法动弹。你正站在一个拉杆旁边。如果你拉动拉杆，电车将转向另一条侧轨，但那里绑着一个人。这样五人会获救，而那一人将丧生。你必须在几秒钟内做出决定。这个被称为“电车难题”的困境，揭示了一个深刻的伦理冲突：主动导致一人死亡以拯救五人，这样做对吗？
For the purpose of this exercise, assume all individuals are strangers of equal moral status, and no other options exist. We will examine the trolley problem through the lenses of Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics—three theories central to the CIE syllabus.
为了本次练习，假设所有个体都是道德地位相等的陌生人，且不存在其他选项。我们将从功利主义、义务论和美德伦理学这三个 CIE 大纲核心理论的角度来审视这个电车难题。
3. Step 1: Identify the Moral Issue and Stakeholders | 第一步：识别道德问题与利益相关者
Before diving into theories, pause and dissect the case. The central moral question is: ‘Do we have a duty not to kill, or a duty to save as many lives as possible?’ Identify who is affected—the five potential victims, the one on the side track, and yourself as the decision‑maker. Noticing the role of the agent is vital: pulling the lever is a positive action, while doing nothing is an omission. Many theories draw a sharp distinction between the two.
在深入理论之前，先停下来拆解案例。核心道德问题是：“我们有义务不杀人，还是有义务拯救尽可能多的生命？”识别出受影响的人——五名潜在受害者、侧轨上的一人，以及作为决策者的你。注意到行动者的角色至关重要：拉动拉杆是积极行为，而不作为则是一种疏漏。许多理论严格区分这两者。
Write these elements down in a quick plan. Underlining terms like ‘active killing’, ‘omission’, ‘utility’, and ‘rights’ will help you stay focused when you start writing. Many examiners comment that top‑scoring scripts immediately show awareness of these layers.
在一份简短的计划中列出这些要素。划出“主动杀人”“不作为”“功利”“权利”等术语，有助于你在动笔时保持专注。许多考官评价说，高分答卷往往从一开始就表现出对这些层次的意识。
4. Step 2: Utilitarian Analysis | 第二步：功利主义分析
Classical Act Utilitarianism, as defended by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, judges actions solely by their consequences. The right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. In our case, pulling the lever results in one death and five lives saved, while not pulling results in five deaths. The hedonic calculus seems straightforward: net saving of four lives → greater overall pleasure and reduced pain. Therefore, a consistent utilitarian would prescribe pulling the lever.
古典行为功利主义，由边沁和密尔捍卫，仅以后果来评判行为。正确的行为就是能为最大多数人带来最大幸福的行为。在我们的案例中，拉动拉杆的结果是一人死亡、五人获救，而不拉杆则导致五人死亡。快乐计算似乎很直接：净救四条人命 → 更大的总体快乐和更少的痛苦。因此，首尾一致的功利主义者会主张拉动拉杆。
However, a sophisticated answer will also consider Rule Utilitarianism and potential long‑term harms. Would pulling the lever set a dangerous precedent, undermining the rule ‘do not kill’, which generally maximises utility? If everyone started sacrificing individuals for the greater good, trust in society might collapse, causing widespread anxiety. Thus, a rule utilitarian might argue that we should follow a rule forbidding the intentional killing of an innocent person, even if in this isolated instance it lowers utility. Bringing this nuance shows evaluative skill.
然而，有深度的答案还会考虑规则功利主义和潜在的长期危害。拉动拉杆是否会开创一个危险的先例，削弱“不许杀人”这项通常能最大化功利的规则？如果人人都开始为更大的善而牺牲个体，社会信任可能崩塌，引发广泛的焦虑。因此，规则功利主义者可能会主张，我们应遵循禁止蓄意杀害无辜者的规则，即便在这个孤例中这样做会降低功利。带入这层细微差别可以展现你的评估能力。
5. Step 3: Deontological (Kantian) Analysis | 第三步：义务论（康德式）分析
Kant’s deontological ethics focuses on duty and the intrinsic rightness of actions, not consequences. The Categorical Imperative demands that we act only according to maxims that we can will to become universal laws. Can we universalise the maxim ‘It is permissible to kill one innocent person to save five’? Kant would argue no: a principle that allows using a person merely as a means would lead to a contradiction in conception. If everyone were permitted to sacrifice others for the greater good, the idea of respecting individuals as ends‑in‑themselves would be destroyed.
康德的义务论伦理学关注责任和行为本身固有的正当性，而非后果。定言命令要求我们仅按照我们能够意愿其成为普遍法则的准则去行动。我们能否将“允许杀死一个无辜者来拯救五人”这个准则普遍化？康德会认为不能：一条允许将人仅仅当作手段的原则，会在概念上自相矛盾。如果人人都被允许为更大的善而牺牲他人，那么尊重个体作为目的本身的理念将荡然无存。
Thus, pulling the lever would be impermissible because it uses the lone person on the side track as a mere tool to save the five, even if the outcome looks good. Kant insists we have a perfect duty not to kill innocent people. Doing nothing, on the other hand, is an omission that does not violate a perfect duty, even though the consequences are tragic. Many students mistakenly claim Kant would demand we pull the lever because lives are sacred; in fact, deontology typically prohibits the direct, intentional killing of an innocent, regardless of the number of lives at stake.
因此，拉动拉杆是不被允许的，因为它将侧轨上的那个人仅仅当作拯救五人的工具，即使结果看起来很好。康德坚持我们有不杀死无辜者的完全义务。而什么都不做则是一种疏漏，并不违反完全义务，尽管后果是悲剧性的。许多学生错误地声称康德会要求我们拉杆，因为生命是神圣的；事实上，义务论通常禁止直接、蓄意地杀害无辜者，无论涉及多少条生命。
6. Step 4: Virtue Ethics Analysis | 第四步：美德伦理学分析
Virtue ethics, drawing on Aristotle, asks a different question: ‘What would a virtuous person do?’ rather than ‘What is the right action?’ The focus shifts to character traits such as courage, compassion, practical wisdom (phronesis), and justice. A virtuous agent would consider the specifics of the situation and respond in a way that reflects a balanced character.
美德伦理学源于亚里士多德，它提出一个不同的问题：“一个有德性的人会怎么做？”而不是“什么是正确的行为？”焦点转向品格特质，如勇敢、同情、实践智慧（phronesis）和正义。一个品德高尚的行动者会考虑具体情况，并以反映平衡品格的方式做出回应。
In the trolley case, the virtue theorist might observe that pulling the lever demonstrates compassion for the many but also potentially a lack of respect for the one. A virtuous person would likely feel a deep tension and might seek a third option that hasn’t been described, precisely because a wise person does not accept forced choices at face value. However, given the binary choice, a virtue ethicist could argue either way depending on which virtue they emphasise. If they prioritise benevolence and the protection of the vulnerable, they might pull the lever. If they prioritise the virtue of justice and never treating a person as a means, they might refuse. This flexibility is both a strength and a criticism of virtue ethics.
在电车案例中，美德论者可能会观察到，拉杆体现了对多人的同情，但也可能体现出对那一个人的尊重缺失。有德性的人很可能会感受到深层的张力，并会设法寻找未被提及的第三种选择，这正是因为明智的人不会轻易接受被迫的二元选择。然而，在给定的二选一中，美德伦理学支持者可能会强调不同的美德而得出不同结论。如果优先考虑仁爱与保护弱势者，他们可能会拉杆；如果优先考虑正义和绝不把人当作手段的美德，他们可能会拒绝。这种灵活性既是美德伦理学的优势，也是对其的批评。
7. Step 5: Comparing the Theories | 第五步：比较各理论
A high‑level answer must not just list theories but compare them on key points. The following table summarises how each theory engages with the trolley dilemma, highlighting contrasts that you can use in an evaluation paragraph.
高分答案不能仅仅罗列理论，而应在关键点上进行比较。下表总结每个理论如何处理电车困境，突出对比，便于你在评估段落中使用。
| Theory | Verdict on Pulling the Lever | Core Reasoning | Key Weakness in This Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act Utilitarianism | Yes, pull | Greater net happiness (5 – 1 = 4 lives saved) | Ignores rights and may justify sacrificing an innocent |
| Rule Utilitarianism | Possibly no, don’t pull | The rule ‘do not kill’ produces more utility long‑term | Abstract and difficult to prove which rules maximise utility |
| Kantian Deontology | No, do not pull | Killing would use a person merely as a means; violates perfect duty | Ignores consequences; can appear coldly indifferent to saving lives |
| Virtue Ethics | Ambiguous; depends on character | A virtuous person exhibits practical wisdom, balancing compassion and justice | Lacks a clear decision procedure; may seem unhelpful in a crisis |
Use these contrasts to build paragraphs that begin ‘While Utilitarianism clearly advocates pulling the lever because of its focus on aggregate welfare, deontology presents a powerful objection by insisting that individuals are never to be used as tools.’ Such linking sentences demonstrate synoptic understanding.
利用这些对比来构建段落，例如：“尽管功利主义因其对群体福利的关注而明确主张拉杆，但义务论提出了强有力的反对，坚称个体绝不应被当作工具使用。”这类衔接句能展现出整体性的理解。
8. Step 6: Constructing a Balanced Argument | 第六步：构建均衡的论证
Now you must present your own reasoned judgement. You do not need to declare one theory ‘right’, but you should show why you find certain considerations more persuasive. A strong structure is: state your interim conclusion, support it by drawing on the strongest points from your analysis, anticipate a counter‑argument from the other side, and rebut it.
现在你必须给出自己经推理后的判断。你不需要宣布某个理论是“正确的”，但应说明为什么你发现某些考量更具说服力。一个稳健的结构是：陈述你的暂时结论，用分析中最有力的论点支撑它，预见到来自另一方的反驳，并予以回应。
For example, you might argue: ‘Although pulling the lever maximises utility, I find the deontological emphasis on human dignity more compelling because a society that routinely sacrifices individuals for greater outcomes would erode the fundamental respect that protects all of us. The case for not pulling the lever is strengthened when we consider that the single person on the side track has done nothing to forfeit their right not to be killed. Therefore, I conclude that the morally safer stance is to refrain from pulling.’ Always signpost your reasoning with words like ‘therefore’, ‘however’, and ‘on balance’.
比如你可以论证：“尽管拉杆能最大化功利，但我发现义务论对人尊严的强调更具说服力，因为一个惯于为更大结果而牺牲个体的社会，会侵蚀保护我们所有人的基本尊重。当我们考虑到侧轨上的那个人并未做任何丧失不被杀害权利的事时，不拉杆的理由就更充分了。因此，我得出结论，从道德上更稳妥的立场是不拉杆。”务必用“因此”“然而”“权衡之下”等词语来标示你的推理。
9. Step 7: Real‑World Applications and Exam Transfer | 第七步：现实应用与考试迁移
Once you have mastered the trolley problem, you can transfer the same analytical template to any CIE case study, whether it involves medical ethics, war, animal rights, or lying. Always begin by identifying the parties, their rights and interests, then work through the theories in a structured way. Practise with past‑paper scenarios: for instance, a surgeon who considers killing one healthy patient to save five dying patients using organ transplants. Despite its similarity, the intimacy of the action might yield different verdicts in virtue ethics—notice these nuances.
一旦掌握了电车难题，你就可以将相同的分析模板迁移到任何 CIE 案例中，无论是涉及医学伦理、战争、动物权利还是说谎。始终先从识别各方、他们的权利和利益开始，然后按结构化的方式梳理各种理论。用历年真题情境进行练习：例如，一位外科医生考虑杀死一名健康病人，用其器官移植拯救五名垂死病人。尽管相似，但行动的亲历性可能在美德伦理学中得出不同结论——务必要注意这类细微差别。
Examiners report that the best answers are those that treat the case as a living dilemma, not just a prompt to regurgitate theory. Use phrases from the case text in your answers, and relate theoretical concepts directly to the scenario’s unique features. This demonstrates application, the second highest assessment objective.
考官报告显示，最好的答案是把案例当作活的困境来对待，而不仅仅是复述理论的引子。在答案中使用案例文本中的短语，并将理论概念直接联系到情境的独特特征。这展示出应用能力，也是第二重要的评估目标。
10. Common Mistakes and Top‑Score Tips | 常见错误与高分技巧
Avoid these pitfalls: (1) describing only one theory in depth while ignoring others; (2) mixing up the theories—e.g., claiming Kant cares about consequences; (3) writing lengthy introductions about philosophers’ biographies; (4) failing to reach a conclusion. Instead, aim for balance, precision, and judgement.
避免这些陷阱：(1) 只深入描述一种理论而忽略其他；(2) 混淆理论——例如声称康德在意后果；(3) 大篇幅介绍哲学家的生平；(4) 未能得出结论。相反，要力争均衡、准确和判断力。
Before the exam, create a one‑page summary table of the main theories, their criteria, strengths, and weaknesses. Then, for each past case study, spend five minutes planning a response using our seven‑step method. Timed practice will build your confidence and speed. Remember, philosophy is not about finding the one correct answer, but about justifying a well‑reasoned position. Show the examiner how you think—that is what earns the highest marks.
考前可制作一张单页总结表，列出主要理论及其标准、优势和弱点。然后，对于每个历年案例，用我们的七步法花五分钟规划答案。计时练习能增强你的信心和速度。记住，哲学不在于找到唯一正确答案，而在于为深思熟虑的立场辩护。向考官展示你的思维过程——这才是获得最高分的要素。
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