Joseph fletchers situation ethics Flashcards
what is the boss principle of situation ethics?
Create the most loving consequences (agape)
What type of ethical theory is it?
It is a consequentialist and a theological theory (focuses on the outcome and whether it is for the highest form of love)
What are 6 fundamental principles of SE?
1) Only one thing is intrinsically good, love nothing else
2) Only love is the principle to suggest what is right and wrong, replaces the law and only rule
3) Love and justice are the same, justice is love distributed
4) Love wills the good of others, regardless of feelings
5) A loving ends justifies the means
6) Love’s decisions are made situationally not prescriptively
Relativist ethics?
No universally valid moral principles and it rejects the idea that actions are intrinsically good or bad
What is legalism?
Based on prescribed rules by which people can ,make every moral decision. Some people suggest that obedience to these rules gains eternal life (beatific vision)
Antinomianism?
‘Against laws’ People are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality
Existentialism?
Philosophy that proposes that a person s free and responsible to determine their own development.
Conscience?
A persons moral sense of right and wrong, part of someone who judges the morality of their own actions. Aquinas said ti was a persons own ‘god-given faculty’
Agape?
Greek word for love, word is used in the NT for the kind of love expressed and taught by Jesus- a selfless love
Aheb?
Hebrew word for loving that is similar to agape
Chesed?
Hebrew word use to describe the loving relationship between god and gods people
What are the four working principles?
One of two sets of guiding principles for SE; personalism, positivism, pragmatism and relativism
Pragmatism?
One must evaluate the situation and perform whatever action is practical/workable, motivated by love.
Relativism?
The view that there are no universal moral norms, but an action should judged right of wrong depending the in the social, cultural and individual circumstances in each situation.
Positivism?
Means that one must accept that acting in the most loving way is the right thing to do without any rational proof that it is.
Personalism?
People, not laws must be put first in any given situation and must achieve the ,most loving outcome
Who is J AT Robinson?
British Bishop who agreed with SE, called to the only ethos for ‘man come of age’. wrote the book “honest to god”
Who is Paul tillich?
German- americana christian exisetalist philosopher who wrote in his systematic theology Vol 1 “The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of the law.
What did Jesus say at the last supper?
“And now I give you a new commandment, love one another… if you have love for one another then everyone will know that you are my disciples”
What is the background for situation ethics in the 1960s?
In 1966 when SE was written, society’s direction was changing, women were increasingly prominent in the work force, absence of men from WW11. Freely available and realiable contreception
What was Bultmans quote about Jesus?
Claimed Jesus had no ethic”Love thy neighbour as yourself”
What was Tilchs quote with love and absolutism?
“The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law”
Who criticised Situation ethics?
Pope Pius X11; “an opposition to natural law, God’s law”
Why are laws used?
To try to eliminate moral evil
Eros definition?
Sexual love
Storge definition?
Family love
Philia definition?
Friendship love
What did the C of e church recognise when situation ethics was created>
Recognised parts of injustice in the church; role of women in the church
What did William barclay say about situation ethics?
Laws are empirical- “To discard law, discard experience” and the insight it brings
How did Fletcher describe The legalistic approach to ethics?
“a whole apparatus of prefabricated rules and regulations”
What is the principled relativism?
Legalism and antionaislm.
How did Fletcher describe laws?
As illuminators and not directors
How did Fletcher describe conscience?
Sees it as a function not a faculty, it is not a verb its a noun. For fletches its not something that lives inside of us, its something that we perform when facing ethical issues.
What was the quote in the Bible of the parable of the Good Samaritan?
“love the lord you God with all your heart and with all youth soul and all you strength and with all your mind”
The robber story- priest goes past, a levite too then a Samaritan came and took pity on him.
What is the greek word thatLuke uses agape’s?
The future command “you will love” Agapeis
How is the theory relativist?
The boss principle is agape, each situation is judged independlty, it recognises no moral was or rules.
How is the theory consequentialist?
Situation is considered with application of conseicene through agape. SE makes moral judgements based on the outcome or the consequences of the action.
How is the theory theological?
Focuses on the end puporse, goal the aim is to assert the triumph of Christian love
How does Situation ethics produce immoral behaviour?
Someone could claim to be acting out of love and could perform such acts as murder or adultery. Relativism gives too much freedom. Humans are prone to making mistakes or being influenced by personal gain rather then love
What did William Barclay write in his book ‘Ethics in a permissive society”?
If love is perfect, then freedom is a good thing. But if there is no love, or if there is not enough love, then freedom can become licence… become selfishness and even cruelty”
What did Fletcher quote from Augstine?
“Augustine was right to make love the source principle, the hinge principle of which all other virtue hang”
What did Iraneaus say about hell, that could relate to us being freed from bad actions?
Even whatever you have done, we will all end up in heaven and be forgiven by god, so there could be favour for SE even if it may sometimes give bad consequences.
Why do some people say that it makes morality subjunctive?
People may not know what is right or wrong, and won’t focus on morality
Why may SE be described as being individualistic?
People it leaves the individual with too much freedom, with no rules people are more likely abuse this and become selfish.
Also consequences are unpredictable
What was Mortimer_J._Adler criticism?
“half baked theory of conduct aired during the early sixties”
Who also agreed with Fletchers theory?
Karl Barth, Josef Fuchs, Paul Tillich
How is situation ethics similar to Utilitarianism?
Both try and maximise something, love/ pleasure/ Greatest good for for the greatest number, SE too
How is situation ethics described as ProportionalsiM?
It is never right to against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason to justify it”- War? But you’re doing it for the love o your country to protect
why is situation ethics a middle way?
a balance of both legalism and antimonilsm, allows laws and takes into account that it should allow change for certain situations
Why did fletcher say that we don’t have a conscience?
Conscience is merely a word for our attempts to makee decisions correctly, constructively, fittingly
Why does aape help society?
allows people the flexibility to approach moral situations without having to stick rigidly to potetially outdated laws. gives guidance and protection to people and consistent with Jesus’ behaviour.
stick to society’s laws unless it seems more loving to break them
have agape love as the main goal for eery acton
why did agape feel to fletcher the best way to make mora decisions?
doesn’t discriminate
shows compassion to everyone eqaully
firm principle, avoids antimonism
flexible; avoids rigidity of legalistic
What did fletcher say about Jesus?
Jesus was neither a legalist nor an antinomian and that he demomstrated agape love in his dealings with people, model for christians to follow.
How is agape reflected in parable of Good Samaritan?
“what must I do to inherit eternal life… what is written in the law “love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind… love you neighbour as yourself”
How can we evaluate the good samairtian?
The priest followed the jewish law and by following the legalistic approach wasn’t following agape and Jesus command
What does 1 corinthians 13 say about agape?
Love is patient, love is kind… it does not envy.., love does not dishonour others, it is not self seeking… love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
What does John 15 v13 mean?
no one has greater love than to give up ones life for ones friends
what is himself migt his quietus make?
a teminally ill patient has 6 months t live.. he doctors can prescribe pills for him to live for 3 years but insurance policy expires following October.
What is legalism for fletcher?
Didn’t agree with legalism due to he thought humans cant think for themselves
too ludicrous and outdated
Exodus “people working on the sabbath should be put to death”
What is fletcher on homosexual/poy relationships?
Outdated rules for christianity on this, applied 3 rules age of consent, public deny and acts involving assault.
Sin unreliable for laws, as long as the idea is for love and for agape principles. Students having a sexual attrition for each other for love rather than casual sex
What quotation did fletcher use on polyamorous?
“range and complexity of sex laws at present ‘on the books’ is a monument to the tongue cheek’
What did fletcher suggest about the wolfeden report>
“it should not be the deuty of the law ti concern itself with matters immorality’
What did fletcher believe on antimonalism?
Dint believe in it due to the fact he thought humanity wouldn’t have a guideline of what moral actions are; working principles, 6 fundamentals. Rape, murder. Without ethical guidance leads to immorality
What did fletcher suggest conscience is?
Consicene isn’t a noun it is. aver. Process of our moral decision making
Who was Alan Turing?
A scientist in the first world war presented ton the audience in the imitation game what life really wa like. prosecuted for being homosexual and avoided a prison sentence by taking medication led to scynaide poisoning and he died.
What was the conclusionn towards Alan Turing?
It was wrong for the law to intervene, consenting adults should be given the freedom to explore their seuxualty.
