Situation ethics Flashcards
3 approaches to SE
legalistic
situational
antinomian
Fletcher’s 6 fundamental principles
1) love is the only thing that is intrinsically good
2) Love replaces the law
3) Love and justice are the same
4) love is not a sentimental love
5) Lovejustifies the means
6)we should focus on the situation
strengths of situation ethics
1) Basing a christian ethical approach on agape is right
2) Fletchers 4 presuppositions appear to be good
3) SE promotes individual autonomy- people can make their own decisions
4) situation ethics can adapt to a changing world
5) focusses on helping people
Fletchers 4 presuppotions
relativism
personalism
positivism
pragmatism
Weaknesses of SE
1) pressure on the individual
2) sidelines church traditions
3) hard to tell what is most loving sometimes
4) unrealistic, it often reflects extreme situations
5)Doing something with the intention of good doesnt justify wrong
Relativism
Morality is situational
Love is the only absolute rule
positivism
Affirming the belief that we should love one another because love is from God
Personalism
People come before laws
Pragmatism
morality is about maximising love out of a situation
SE on theft
Entirely situational
whatever is most loving
puts people over laws
SE on Lying
Situational- no intrinsic right or wrong
Lying can show a lack of love
lying tro provide reassurance if it maximises agape
Real vs apparent goods
Apparent goods encompass actions which seen fine but are not. drugs- feel good but are illegal and harmful
Real good are actual goods
for example, charity
SE on IVF and embryo research
Embryo is only a potential person
no moral concerns
humans are in control of own reproduction
if it maximises agape
considerations when applying SE
what will work in the particular situation
how is agape affirmed?
motives
people before laws?
