Situation Ethics

Question 1

What are the four working principles?

Answer 1

• Pragmatism
• Relativism
• Positivism
• Personalism

Question 2

What is Pragmatism?

Answer 2

Moral actions must work/achieve some realistic goal.

Question 3

What is Relativism?

Answer 3

There are no fixed laws which must be obeyed. The situationist avoids words like “never”, “perfect” and “always.”

Question 4

What is Positivism?

Answer 4

Giving first place to christian love, rooted in faith. Depends on christians freely choosing faith that God is love.

Question 5

What is Personalism?

Answer 5

People come first not the Law. The legalist puts the law first but the situationist puts people first.

Question 6

What is ‘Conscience’

Answer 6

Describes the weighing up of the possible action before it’s taken.

Question 7

What are the six fundamental principles?

Answer 7

First Proposition - “Only one thing is intrinsically good - love.”

Second Proposition - “Ruling norm of Christian decision is love.”

Third Proposition - “Love & justice are the same.”

Fourth Proposition - “Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not.”

Fifth Proposition - “Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.”

Sixth Proposition - “Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.”