Situation Ethics Flashcards
Who put forward situation ethics and when?
Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s
What form of ethics does situation ethics fall under?
Relativism
All decisions must be relative to
love/agape
What are the Four Working Principles?
Pragmatism, relativism, positivism, personalism
Pragmatism
The course of action taken must work (practical)
What is pragmatism?
The course of action taken must work (practical)
What is relativism in relation to situation ethics?
All decisions made must be relative to love
What is the quote from Fletcher regarding relativism in situation ethics?
“[Situation ethics] relativizes the absolute, it does not absolutize the relative”
What is positivism?
Faith in God first, then use reason to justify faith
What is personalism?
People must always come first before laws/rules
Example of pragmatism
Not taking all of the children from the orphanage, because is not possible or practical, even though it would be the most loving thing to do
Example of personalism
Jesus healing on the Sabbath
What is the first Fundamental Principle?
“Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love, nothing else at all”
What is the second Fundamental Principle?
“The ruling norm of Christian decision is love, nothing else.”
What is the third Fundamental Principle?
“Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.”
