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

Love is the only good
Love is the ruling norm of Christianity
Love = Justice
Love thy neighbour
The ends justify the means
Love is situational

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.

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.

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.

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.