Situation Ethics

Question 1

Rejection of legalism

Answer 1

Legalism - all of our moral actions should be governed by rules

It stops people thinking for themselves about ethical issues. Fletcher states this type of ethics is like a “choking web of laws.”

Question 2

Rejection of antinomianism

Answer 2

Antinomianism - there should be no ethical rules at all

Fletcher says that if there are no rules at all, “one enters into the decision making situation armed with no principles.”
Without any ethical rules people may not be able to understand the difference between right and wrong. Society could fall into anarchy (chaos).

Question 3

Rejection of the conscience

Answer 3

The conscience - God ethically guiding us in our minds

conscience is not a noun (a thing) and is instead a verb (a process).
Therefore, the conscience cannot be God working inside us (a thing) but instead it is just the brain’s mechanical process of working out moral decisions (a process). As Fletcher stated “There is no conscience; “conscience” is merely a word for our attempts to make decisions.”

Question 4

The Boss Principle - Agape

Answer 4

There should be one single and simple guideline principle, with which all individuals could work out whether the consequences of their actions were right or wrong in every single moral situation. This single principle was selfless love.

Question 5

The 6 fundamental principles

Answer 5

‘Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all.’
‘The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else.’
‘Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else:’
‘Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not’
‘Only the end justifies the means, nothing else’
‘Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively’

Question 6

The 4 working principles

Answer 6

Pragmatism
Relativism
Positivism
Personalism

Question 7

Application to homosexual relationships

Answer 7

Morally Good = Fletcher argues Situation Ethics would say homosexual relationships, like all relationships, could be ethically good if the consequences of the relationship led to agape. In practical terms this means that if the homosexual relationship is based around loving commitment then Situation Ethics would say ignore the religious rules against homosexuality (such as in Leviticus). This is because agape is better served by allowing the relationship.

Morally Bad = However, if the homosexual relationship was based just around lust (the
selfish desire for self-satisfaction – such as casual sex) then Situation Ethics would say it was morally wrong. This is because the homosexual relationship is creating selfish consequences and not loving ones. Therefore, Situation Ethics would say stick to the religious rules on homosexuality (such as in Leviticus) because love is not best served by breaking the rule.

Question 8

Application to polyamorous relationships

Answer 8

Morally Good = Fletcher argues Situation Ethics would say polyamorous relationships could be ethical good if the consequences of the relationship led to agapeistic consequences. In practical terms this means that if the polyamorous relationship is based around loving commitment for all those involved then Situation Ethics would say ignore the religious rules against polyamorous relationships (such as in Hebrews). This is because agape is better served by allowing the polyamorous relationship.

Morally Bad = However, if the polyamorous relationship was based just around lust (the selfish desire for self-satisfaction – such as casual sex) then Situation Ethics would say it was morally wrong. This is because the polyamorous homosexual relationship is creating selfish consequences and not loving ones. Therefore, Situation Ethics would say stick to the religious rules on polyamorous relationships (such as in Hebrews) because love is not best served by breaking the rule.