Situation Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What type of theory is Situation Ethics?

A

Teleological - relates to the telos being aimed at being a consequentialist idea

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2
Q

Who is the key thinker of Situation Ethics?

A

Joseph Fletcher

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3
Q

What is the context behind Situation Ethics?

A

Fletcher believed that Christian moral decision making was needing a update due to several reasons such as
- Severe decline in Church attendance
- Liberalising laws in the UK such as abortion or homosexuality
- Previous Christian theories not flexible enough

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4
Q

Who did Fletcher quote at the start of his theory ‘Situation Ethics: A New Morality’

A

BISHOP ROBINSON: ‘there is no ethical system that can claim to be Christian’
RUDOLF BULTMANN: ‘Jesus has no ethics other than love thy neighbour’

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5
Q

What is legalism?

A

Two types of Christian rule based morality:
1) Natural Moral Law (Reason based)
2) Divine Command Theory (Bible based)

Fletcher rejects it for being too inflexible

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6
Q

What is Antinominalism?

A

No ethical system at all -> some Christians ‘just know’ right from wrong due to the Holy Spirit where as others follow secular existentialism where believers make their own morality through their responses

Fletcher rejects it for being too unprincipled and believed it goes against Jesus’ teaching of ‘Love thy Neighbour’

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7
Q

What is Situationism?

A

Middle way between Legalism and Antinominalism all about agape love basing rules on the situations and reasons and accepts the Bible commands of love thy neighbour. Based on reason and against the idea of an inbuilt law

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8
Q

What is Agape?

A

Highest form of love - Love of God for man and man of god. Fletcher believed that there are no absolutely binding laws in Christianity so agape is the one we should use.

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9
Q

What did Fletcher believe about the conscience?

A

Conscience is something we do not something we have and it is a form of guidance before we make a decision but it can not guide human action.

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10
Q

What were Fletcher’s 4 presumptions?

A

Pragmatism
Contextual Relativism
Positivism
Personalism

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11
Q

What is Pragmatism?

A

Assessing whether something works in achieving the final telos, agape

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12
Q

What is Contextual Relativism?

A

Assessing what is the most loving in each situation

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13
Q

What is Positivism?

A

Stems from the belief of a loving God and that agape requires a leap of faith over reason

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14
Q

What is Personalism?

A

People centred -> needs of the people must take priority

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15
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
1. Love only is always ____________

A

Good.

This meaning that loving isn’t something that people have or are but something that they do. Love is the only intrinsic good.

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16
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
2. Love is the only ____________

A

Norm.

If love requires it then any law can be broken the 10 commandments as Christian morality is based upon love.

17
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
3. Love and ____________ are the same

A

Justice.

Justice is the way love is expressed and love must be calculated to produce the most loving result

18
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
4. Love is not ____________

A

Liking.

Selfless act that expects nothing else in return -> Love hates the sin not the sinner

19
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
5. Love justifies the ____________

A

Means.

Love is always justifiable if it is used correctly and whether something right is nothing to do with if it is lawful

20
Q

Fletcher’s Six Working Principles:
6. Love decisions are made on the ____________ not the rules

A

Situation.

Used situationally and used to take risks when there are grey areas.

21
Q

Quotes from Fletcher about love

A

‘justice is love distributed’
‘love plots the course (according to it’s situation)’