Situation Ethics

Question 1

What must you know in Situation Ethics

Answer 1

Fletchers agape

Six propositions

Four working principles

Conscience

Question 2

What is Agape

Answer 2

Unconditional / selfless love

Question 3

What is Fletchers Situation Ethics

Answer 3

Fletcher argues that the one absolute rule is love

Question 4

What are the features of Situation Ethics

Answer 4

It is relative making Situation Ethics not a fixed thing (except for love)

It is teleological as it is concerned only about the outcome (e.g. lie out of love)

Question 5

What are the four working principles of Situation Ethics

Answer 5

1. Pragmatism
2. Relativism
3. Positivism
4. Personalism

Created to understand Situation Ethics

Question 6

What is Pragmatism in the four working principles of Situation Ethics

Answer 6

Pragmatism - Situation Ethics is good because it works, Fletcher wanted something that just works in practice and can be done

Question 7

What is Relativism in the four working principles of Situation Ethics

Answer 7

Relativism - Love is the absolute, everything else is relative, we should always act out of love and its different in each situation

Question 8

What is Positivism in the four working principles of Situation Ethics

Answer 8

Positivism - There is no evidence to why we should act out of life, a leap of faith is required to do so, love is the start of all ethical systems

Question 9

What is Personalism in the four working principles of Situation Ethics

Answer 9

Personalism - Love is more important that rules or laws, Situation Ethics allows us to ignore law and focus on love

Question 10

What are the Six Propositions of Situation Ethics

Answer 10

1. Love is always good
2. Love is the only norm
3. Love and justice is the same
4. Love is not liking
5. Love justifies the means
6. Love decides there and then

Question 11

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love is always good

Answer 11

Love is the only good thing within itself, if you follow it you will always lead to good

Question 12

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love is the only norm

Answer 12

Situation Ethics ignores all other duties and rules, as rules are set to serve love. We may break rules to serve love such as adultery (prison camp)

Question 13

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love is the same as justice

Answer 13

Love and justice are two of the same, Justice is just love distributed, justice allows for fairness

Question 14

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love is not liking

Answer 14

For Fletcher there are different kinds of love, philia, eros, agape - we don’t need to like to love

Question 15

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love justifies the means

Answer 15

The end justifies the means, the means is an action done in love for a better result

Question 16

What does it mean in the Six Propositions that love decides there and then

Answer 16

We need to apply love differently in each situation, as each situation is different. We must take everything into account and decide then.

Question 17

What is conscience for Fletcher

Answer 17

Conscious is a verb not a noun - it is a constant thing which constantly decides on right and wrong

Question 18

How would you apply Situation Ethics

Answer 18

Abortion after rape - daughter cannot get abortion, Fletcher argues that situation ethics allows abortion because its person focused and not absolute

Euthanasia - Outcome is most important for Fletcher, euthanasia should be allowed

Adultery - Adultery done for a greater cause, such as to save life (prison guard)

Question 19

What are some strengths of Situation Ethics

Answer 19

It is clear and easy to understand

Based on one principle

Flexible

Based on love, which most moral systems are

Question 20

What are some weaknesses of Situation Ethics

Answer 20

Two different views can claim to be about love but can be contradictory

Basing morals on emotions isn’t good