2.2 Situation Ethics

Question 1

List some of the changes taking place in society when Robinson wrote about situation ethics

Answer 1

E.g. women joining the workforce, USA - Vietnam war, Kennedys assassination, Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement, introduction of the contraceptive pill, sexual revolution, rise of teenager, hippy and student culture

Question 2

What is agape?

Answer 2

A Greek word meaning love. It is an attitude of generosity and respect to others that expects nothing in return. It is the love Jesus showed humanity.

Question 3

Give a bible quote about Jesus’ teaching regarding love

Answer 3

-e.g. the sabbath was made for man, not man for sabbath (Mark 2:27)
- when Jesus heals individuals with leprosy, instead of considering following religious teaching that lepers are unclean and sinners, and therefore should not be touched (Luke 17:11-19)
- when Jesus saved a woman from being stoned to death by declaring, ‘whoever hasn’t sinned should throw their fist to the stone) john 8:7

Question 4

Fletcher believed situation ethics provided a middle ground between which two moral extremes

Answer 4

Antinomianism and legalism

Question 5

List fletchers four presuppositions

Answer 5

Pragmatism, relativism, positivism, personalism

Question 6

What did fletcher mean when he said only love is intrinsically good?

Answer 6

The only intrinsically good thing that is good in itself, is love. Love is not instrumentally good or good because it achieves a particular purpose

Question 7

What did fletcher mean when he said only the end justifies the means?

Answer 7

If love is the outcome of ones actions, then the means or actions taken to achieve this are not morally significant. It is only the outcome that matters