Situation Ethics

Question 1

Legalism

Answer 1

the view that it is always right to obey the moral law

Question 2

Antionomianism

Answer 2

the view that the laws put in place by societies should be rejected

Question 3

Situationism

Answer 3

the idea that rules should be set aside when love demands

Question 4

Pragmatism

Answer 4

the presupposition that we should do what is pragmatic (what works in a situation)

Question 5

Relativism

Answer 5

the idea that morality is relative to the situation and that we should avoid words like ‘always’, ‘never’, ‘perfect’

Question 6

Positivism

Answer 6

the presupposition that ethical norms are held by faith - agape is the only intrinsically good thing

Question 7

Personalism

Answer 7

the presupposition that morality is about persons, not rules

Question 8

normative ethics

Answer 8

rules or theory by which we make ethical judgements: laying down rules of acceptable behaviour

Question 9

The Four Presuppositions

Answer 9

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

Question 10

The Six Presuppositions

Answer 10

1. Only one thing is intrinsically good: love
2. Love is the only norm
3. Love and justice are the same
4. Love wills the neighbour’s good
5. Only the end justifies the means and nothing else
   - end?
   - means?
   - motive?
   - consequences?
6. Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively

Question 11

Agapeic calculus

Answer 11

‘Do whatever is the most loving thing’

Fletcher’s parallel to Bentham’s pleasure calculus

Question 12

Conative

Answer 12

brought about by the (human) will

Question 13

Humanism

Answer 13

a system of thought in which reliance is placed on human intelligence and will, rather than on supernatural guidance