Situation ethics Flashcards
Teleological
A theory of ethics whereby the rightness of an act is determined by its end.
Moral goodness is rooted in the consequence of actions.
Relativism
In Fletcher’s system the idea that morality is relative to the situation.
We should avoid words like ‘always’, ‘never’ and ‘perfect’.
Jesus’ agapeic love relatives the absolute, does not absolute the relative.
Fletcher’s 3 approaches to moral thinking
- Legalistic
- Antinomian
- Situational
Legalistic
(Moral law)
Laws accumulate to cover all eventualities.
E.g. Murder
A legalist must constantly update to remain up to date.
Such fixed laws pose issues when staying up to date.
Antinomian
Opposite to legalistic
A person following this doesn’t apply any kind of law only choice as supporters Nietzsche and Sartre believe.
Situational
“Love God and Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Middle ground
Inspired by the greatest commandment of Jesus
Loving people not laws
William Temple quote
“Love is the predominant Christian impulse.”
Joseph Fletcher
An American professor and notable contributor in the field of bio-ethics.
1905- 1991
Advocated abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, eugenics and cloning.
Founder of situation ethics.
Founded on love
Reassessment of Christian morality
Fletcher’s perception was that the traditional Christian ethics needed a new focus.
He believed it focused too much on rigid rules within the Bible instead of the agape shown by Jesus throughout the New Testament.
He wanted to shift away from deontological rules and duties.
Context of SE
Church membership was declining.
WW1 and WW2 weakened religious bonds
Rise of science
Change of politics
Quote from Fletcher’s book
“there are times when a man has to push his principles aside and do the right thing.”
Quote J.Fletcher
“Situation ethics puts people at the centre of concern.”
Legalism
Legalism is so rigid and focused on rules that there are rules to break the rules.
“…any web thus woven sooner or later chokes its weavers” (Fletcher)
What Fletcher means that even those completely dedicated to the rules will realise that they are lacking in love and can even be sadistic.
It’s rigid and prescriptive and are not reflective of the “headaches and heartbreaks of life.”
Reality should not be reduced to a set of rules.
Antinomianism
Translates literally to ‘against law’
Fletcher is talking here particularly about those who claim to have special knowledge so that they have no need for laws at all.
Fletcher describes this kind of thinking as irresponsible.
Situationism
The only rule is “agapeic love”
Rules and laws are therefore only valid if they serve selfless love.
His theory was built on Jesus and the greatest commandment.
Jesus himself quite frequently put aside rules in order to do the most loving thing e.g., the adulterous woman.
Fletcher agrees with Aquinas that reason is the instrument of judgement, but he rejects revelation.
