Situation Ethic

Question 1

What type of theory is situation Ethic?

Answer 1

Teleological Theory

Question 2

Joseph Fletcher divides Moral thinking into three basic kinds?

Answer 2

legalistic-Relying to heavily on law
antinomian-Having no rules or laws at all
situational ethics

Question 3

What are the 4 working principles?

Answer 3

Pragmatism-it’s based on practical experience- rather than on theory
Relativism- there should be no fixed rules
Positivism-must be faith before reasoning
Personalism-Persons not law or anything else people should be at the centre of the theory

Question 4

What is the Six Proposition?

Answer 4

1. Only one thing is intrinsically good namely love nothing else
2. The ruling norm of Christian decision is love nothing else
3. Love and Justice are the same is distributed nothing else
4. Love wills the neighbour good whether we like him or not
5. Only the end justifies the means nothing else
6. Love decisions are made situationally notprescriptivally

Question 5

What does Augustine say Agape?

Answer 5

Augustine famously suggested that people should ‘love God and do what they will’ as if they will be guided to do the right thing.

Question 6

What does Bonhoeffer say about Agape?

Answer 6

Bonhoffer whose faith led him to plot against hitler this the idea that love is key to Christian ethics is not new

Question 7

What does Fletcher reject the idea that conscience is?

Answer 7

1. Institution
2. A channel for divine guidance
3. The internalised values of the individuals culture or
4. The part of reason that makes value judgment
   * This is because all of these are treat conscience as a thing which Fletcher believes is a makes
   * Rather for him consience is a VERB rather than a noun-it is something you DO when you make decions as he puts it ‘creatively’

Question 8

Strength of Situation Ethic?

Answer 8

• The view that seeking maximum agape - selfless love - is a useful principle in any situation where moral decision-marking is taking place as love for others will always be considered a good thing
• That agape is a relevant concept in the twenty-first century if understood as wanting best for others it might be aruged that ‘’ love thy neighbour’’ is not an outdated sentiment
• The view that six propositions and Four working principles provide useful guidance for moral decisions making and prevent situation ethics from being entirely individualistics and subjective
• Fletcher felt that rules should generally be followed and that breaking them is not a decision to be taken lightly therefore the idea that situation ethics provide little to no guidance and no social cohesion is false

Question 9

Weakness of Situation Ethic?

Answer 9

• The view that seeking maximum agape - selfless love - is a useful principle in any situation where moral decision-marking is taking place as love for others will always be considered a good thing
• That agape is a relevant concept in the twenty-first century if understood as wanting best for others it might be aruged that ‘’ love thy neighbour’’ is not an outdated sentiment
• The view that six propositions and Four working principles provide useful guidance for moral decisions making and prevent situation ethics from being entirely individualistics and subjective
• Fletcher felt that rules should generally be followed and that breaking them is not a decision to be taken lightly therefore the idea that situation ethics provide little to no guidance and no social cohesion is false