Situation Ethics Flashcards
history of situation ethics?
founded in 1960’s by American Professor Joseph Fletcher, “only one thing that is always good and right,intrinsically good,regardless of,context,and that one thing is love” (extremely subjective)
- a radical and controversial christian ethical approach based on every situation being judged on its own merits
what is legalism?
an over reliance on applying rigid rules eg jewish laws of OT has 613 rules which jesus critics as it focuses on minor issues rather than major
positives of legalism?
-laws protect people,leads to an orderly society (chosen democratically)
-laws have helped people eg protect women (sexual discrimination act)
-laws are easy to follow
negatives of legalism?
-it’s too subjective/harsh to have one rule for everyone
-law making is subjective to opinions
-laws don’t protect everyone equally
-laws not always created democratically (russia)
what is antinomianism?
a rejection of all moral laws ,20th century philosophy has been affected by existentialism and instead the individual should make their own decisions
positives and negatives of antinomianism?
-gives freedom to people
-works eg in slab city america
but
- society could cease to functions
example of over reliance on the legal world?
-ohio abortion law means that only rich can leave the state to get abortion which directly stood poorer,black peoples from being able to get abortions (over reliance on legal world)
fletchers belief on antinomianism and legalism?
believes situation ethics is a perfect mid point between these two points
what’s pragmatism?
in order to count as true something must work in practice
fletcher, “the good is what works,what is expedient,what gives satisfaction”
positives and negatives of pragmatism?
-functional,if something can be proved it works
-pure motivations/intentions
-best course of action is the one which promotes the summit bonum (the highest value)
but what are pure motives ???
relavitism?
the right thing to do is dependent on the context -not absolute relavitism as this would mean making moral decisions in a completely random and intellectually irresponsible way where as love is the reason to act (context for all moral decisions is agape and this should be shiver everything
fletchers cab driver said, “sometimes you have to push aside your differences and do the right thing”
analysis of relavitism?
-makes it no ethics at all,lacks a concept of guiding principles of right and wrong which makes it hard to create a just society eg Jacqueline Savage given clemency for killing husband (will these lead to more murders?)
-doesn’t exclude any type of person (total cultural relavitism)
-jesus went agains the bible to heal on the sabbath and put himself on the level of god “i am”
positivism ?
idea that love is always positive and so should be the basis of all moral decision making,although it cannot be proved that agape is the only intrinsic good but fletcher uses christian teachings to attempt to
eg -we love because god loved
-love your neighbour as yourself
-John 1:17 “grace and truth come through Jesus”
analysis of positivism?
-assumes that love is alway good, what about pedophilia
-eliminates atheists or other religions as his proof comes from the bible rather than a proven source but surely these people don’t need to take a leap of faith to show love in action
personalism ?
situation ethics is person centred,people are the first priority rules come second
