Situation Ethics

Question 1

What is Pragmatism?

Answer 1

what works/maximises love
James “…turns his back upon fixed principles”
takes into account situation

Question 2

What is Relativism?

Answer 2

“The situationist avoids words like ‘never’”
agapeic - christian situationism
“own responsible estimate of the situation”

Question 3

What is positivism?

Answer 3

ethical norms not rationa - act of faith/judgement

“faith working through love” - Paul - “pith of christian ethics”

Question 4

What is personalism?

Answer 4

people at centre
people to be loved not rules
Mark - ‘Sabbath’ commandments not to be followed slavishly

Question 5

What is one of Fletcher’s 6 propositions?

Answer 5

Love only is always good
-“one thing is intrinsically good”
good on situation - lend cash - starving family/ or good to steal
“heartbreaking calculations”

Question 6

What is another of Fletcher’s 6 propostions?

Answer 6

Love and Justice are the same
-"justice is love distributed"
-UN policy etc.
christian love 'using its head' 
agapeic calculus (similar hedonic calculus) - amount love

Question 7

Strengths of Situation Ethics

Answer 7

• respond social climate (rejected christian legalism)
• Flexibility/no laws (priniciple relativism)
• take responsibility actions

Question 8

Weaknesses of Situation Ethics

Answer 8

Criticism Pope Pius - believed laws immutable
Peter Vardy - importance love God gone - try to appeal secular audience
Vardy - ‘lack of clear guidance’ bias/open to abuse
Hard to predict result