Normative Ethical Theories - Teleological

Question 1

Paul Tillich and the law of love

Answer 1

• the law of love is absolute –> doing the most loving action gets rid of the law, and cannot get rid of anything fixed
• every situation is different and all factors are considered
• if you always ‘do love’ you will always do the right thing: the most loving result for the people involved

Question 2

William Temple and the Ultimate duty

Answer 2

• one duty: Jesus –> love your neighbour as a you love yourself
• AGAPE: the essence of Christianity

Question 3

what is agape

Answer 3

• a teaching from jesus
• parable of the good samaritan
• unconditional and selfless love

Question 4

Bishop Robinson and ethical systems

Answer 4

• natural moral law cannot claim to be Christian
• clash with NML and doing the most loving thing for others (agape)

Question 5

Christian ethics

Answer 5

• absolutes in NML
• doesnt consider the situation, doesnt demonstrate agape
• contradictions: clashes and not clear rules

Question 6

Legalistic ethics

Answer 6

• do not take situations into account
• doesnt demonstrate agape and allow for love
• deontological –> concerned with actions

Question 7

Antinomian ethics

Answer 7

• dont have an ethical system or believe you are above having one
• no fixed guidlines
• can justify anything and can cause disorder in society

Question 8

Situationism

Answer 8

• relativity of antinomianism buy rules of legalism
• absolute of love –> enter with rules but be prepared to set them aside
• moral decisions are hypothetical –> what best serves love
• neocasuistry, new case by case
• teleological —> focused on the consequences of actions

Question 9

quote on situationism

Answer 9

‘enters into every decision making situation fully armed with the ethical maxims of his community…illuminators of his problem’

Question 10

4 presumptions of fletcher

Answer 10

1. pragmatism
2. relativism
3. positivism
4. personalism

Question 11

pragmatism

Answer 11

• practical or success guaranteed
• proposed course of action must work –> must work towards the end = love

Question 12

relativism

Answer 12

• no fixed rules to obey must be relative to christian love
• situation ethics: relative ethics can be absolute but not vice versa
• not a free for all

Question 13

positivism

Answer 13

• religious belief in God’s love –> can experience through natural phenomena/nature or theology/scripture
• God is love: belief rather than fact
• christians believe God is love and this is a basis of faith, but he could easily not be –> demonstrate love as a result
• does an event or scripture demonstrate God’s love

Question 14

personalism

Answer 14

• putting people first in your decisions
• do what helps humans best: animal experimentation helps humans

Question 15

conscience

Answer 15

• inside moral principles
• vary from person to person
• develops over time
• religious influence
• environment
• moral intelligence
• emotional intelligence

Question 16

fletcher’s ideas on conscience

Answer 16

• rejects conventional ideas like intuition, gods guidance and internal ideas from a person culture
• conscience is a verb not a noun
• our attempts to make decisions ‘creatively and constructively’
• conscience is applied before the decision is made
• not a judgement that continues after the event
• take into 4 presumptions

Question 17

what were fletchers 6 fundamental principles

Answer 17

1. love is the only intrinsically good thing
2. love is the only norm
3. love = justice
4. love is not liking
5. love justifies its means
6. love decides there and then

Question 18

love is the only intrinsically good thing

Answer 18

• actions cannot be good or bad (challenges the intrinsic fallacy)
• only concerns how much love is in the action (eg. abortion, suicide)

Question 19

love is the only norm

Answer 19

• follow rules (legalism) unless love decides otherwise –> love takes precedence
• BergMeier story: imprisoned, had to principles (no adultery or abandoning family), had to have sex to get preg to leave for family

Question 20

love = justice

Answer 20

• justice is love distributed
• followers principle of utilitarianism (most love for all)
• most love = most just for greater society

Question 21

love is not liking

Answer 21

• agape is not eros or philia
• about loving your neighbour but no desire/attraction is needed
• about goodwill and benevolence –> careful and thoughtful
• save medical genius vs dad in fire as med genius will save more lives further

Question 22

love justifies its means

Answer 22

• acts are only good depending on their outcome
• teleological vs deontological
• lying is teleologically bad but if the end goal is loving it is good
• must show LOVE at the end above all else (absolute law of love)

Question 23

love decides there and then

Answer 23

• creating the most amount of love for the greatest amount of people
• relativity of situation, no fixed rules
• UTILITARIANISM

Question 24

9 positives of situation ethics

Answer 24

1) relative, and relates to circumstances
2) realistic –> easier to follow
3) relevant in modern day ethical issues
4) balance between legalism and antinomianism
5) no contradictions
6) no inherently good or bad action as it is based in love
7) justice and love combined
8) compatible with religion
9) roots with utilitarianism

Question 25

6 negatives of situation ethics

Answer 25

1) no fixed rules: hard to apply
2) may inspire people to break the law, causing disorder in society
3) issues within teleology –> cannot predict the future result
4) subjectivity based on love and intention
5) agape is unrealistic –> Jesus demonstrated agape in Christianity, people are asked to act like God
6) we cannot be unemotional in love (4th fund principle) , it is hard for humans
7) Barclay: issues with it not be a communal idea, unlike Christianity –> not teaching about loving others to form relationships

Question 26

Examine how you may apply Situation Ethics to the issue of lying

Answer 26

• Rejection of legalism and antinomianism for situationism
• Teleological - impact of lie not lie itself.
• Agape - selfless unconditional love displayed by Jesus. Absolute law of love.
• 4 presumptions - relativism - based on situation
  Personalism - putting people first
• 6 fundamental principles - Nothing intrinsically good just love - lying if it is done out of love is good. Love justifies the means - lie has to be for love. Situationally not prescriptively - depends on circumstance
• Corrie Ten Boom - good example