Sexual Ethics - Situation Ethics

Question 1

What example of premarital sex does Fletcher give?

Answer 1

Gives the case of a woman in America asked to sleep with an American spy. She believed in sex only in marriage as she was a Christian. Would it be loving for her to sleep with the spy to gain information for the American government which could save many lives?

Question 2

How does pragmatism apply to premarital sex?

Answer 2

Contraception is available

Question 3

How does Personalism apply to premarital sex?

Answer 3

If the people involved consent and are in a loving and committed relationship, then they should make their own decision regardless of what a rule states.

Question 4

What does Fletcher say about premarital sex?

Answer 4

Believed that it is loving to let a couple choose for themselves - especially if the couple love each other unconditionally and are in a committed relationship. This serves agape.

Question 5

What form of premarital sex does Fletcher not agree with and why?

Answer 5

He would never agree with rape, underage premarital sex etc. because it does not will the neighbour’s good, it is an end that can never be justified based on love.

Question 6

What did Fletcher say about Jesus’ teachings on premarital sex?

Answer 6

Wrote that Jesus said nothing at all about premarital sex, heavy petting, homosexuality and did not condemn these. Love must always come first.

Question 7

What is the strength of the personal use of reasoned conscience?

Answer 7

Means it is left for couples to decide rather than follow strict rules about sexual ethics

Question 8

What is the strength of a relativist approach?

Answer 8

Means it is flexible and takes account of the differing situations of premarital sex - rape, committed and loving relationships.

Question 9

What is the strength of Fletcher’s approach based on agape?

Answer 9

Love is at the heart of situation ethics and relationships are about love. Sex in itself is never right or wrong - it’s how people understand sex that makes it right or wrong.

Question 10

What are the strengths of a teleological approach?

Answer 10

The consequences are always considered. Not the feature of the act itself. So compassionate approach to ethics.

Question 11

Did Jesus teach anything about premarital sex?

Answer 11

Taught it was wrong - “a man leaves his mother and father and joins with his wife and the two become one flesh”

Question 12

What example did Fletcher give for adultery?

Answer 12

Mrs Bergeimier - Ukrainian Jew who was put in a concentration camp and separated from her husband and children. She impregnated herself with a guard at the camp and was allowed to leave as she was pregnant. She returned to her family and they brought the son up as their own and christened him.

Question 13

What did Fletcher say about the Mrs Bergeimier example?

Answer 13

For Fletcher this was the most loving decision in the circumstance.

Question 14

How does Mrs Bergiemier reflect pragmatism?

Answer 14

She did escape the camp and return to her husband and family

Question 15

How does Mrs Bergeimier reflect personalism?

Answer 15

She has disregarded the law of do not commit adultery and put her husband and family first.

Question 16

How does pragmatism apply to homosexuality?

Answer 16

With contraception homosexual sex is less likely to bring about the spread of aids. There are laws that make homosexual marriage legal so it is pragmatic.

Question 17

How does relativism apply to homosexuality?

Answer 17

All decisions regarding homosexual relationships and sex should be based on agape.

Question 18

How does positivism apply to homosexuality?

Answer 18

Decisions must be based on faith in God’s love.

Question 19

How does personalism apply to homosexuality?

Answer 19

People should be put before the law, so homosexual love and feelings of the persons must come above laws that reject homosexual sex e.g. in Russia.

Question 20

How do the 6 fundamental principles apply to homosexuality?

Answer 20

Agape has to be at the centre of all decisions regarding homosexuality for Fletcher. Homosexual relationships should be based on unconditional, non emotional love. People should have a loving attitude to homosexuals - when love is served, justice is carried out - allowing homosexual committed relationships is just and loving.

Question 21

What is the Strength of Fletcher’s private approach to relationships?

Answer 21

Addresses the issue of privacy in relationships rather than public laws - and relationships can be seen as private matters.

Question 22

How does Vardy criticise Situation Ethics?

Answer 22

Situation ethics is always in danger of crossing dangerous boundaries. Once you allow premarital sex as loving, then the doors open for more promiscuous sex and society breakdown, family breakdown etc.

Question 23

How does Dostoevsky criticise Situation Ethics?

Answer 23

People need rules. They cannot cope with too much freedom and making their own decisions based on love.

Question 24

How does Pope Pius XII criticise Situation Ethics?

Answer 24

Situation Ethics is too subjective and individualistic. Sexual ethics needs rules to protect people and society and to ensure that our human purposes are fulfilled.

Question 25

What is the issue with a teleological approach?

Answer 25

Cannot always predict if a consequence of premarital sex will be loving e.g. unplanned pregnancy can result in an unloving abortion. The feature of the act itself does matter - having sex before marriage is immoral.