Situation Ethics Flashcards
Who created Situation Ethics, and in what decade?
Joseph Fletcher created Situation Ethics in the 1960s.
What social movements influenced the development of Situation Ethics?
Radical social movements of the 1960s, which aimed at overthrowing traditional ways of life seen as oppressive.
How does Fletcher’s approach embody liberal Christianity?
He rejected strict adherence to moral laws and instead reduced Christian ethics to the overarching theme of love, as taught by Jesus.
What is legalism in ethics?
The view that people require fixed moral rules to follow.
What is antinomianism?
The belief that there are no rules or laws to follow at all.
How does Situation Ethics differ from legalism and antinomianism?
It takes the situation into account while still providing clear guidance based on love, avoiding both rigid rules and moral chaos.
What is the greatest commandment according to Jesus?
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
How does Fletcher interpret the role of religious rules in Christianity?
Religious rules only have value insofar as they enable agape (love)
What extreme example does Fletcher give to illustrate agape?
A family hiding from bandits, where killing a crying baby was seen as the most loving action to save everyone.
What are the four working principles of Situation Ethics?
Pragmatism, Relativism, Positivism, and Personalism.
What does pragmatism mean in Situation Ethics?
Decisions should be based on experience and what works in practice, rather than on abstract theories.
What does relativism mean in Situation Ethics?
The absolute laws of Christian ethics should be applied relative to the situation.
What is positivism in Situation Ethics?
Ethical decision-making should start with a belief in the reality and importance of love.
What does personalism mean in Situation Ethics?
People come before rules, as illustrated by Jesus’ teaching: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
What is the only thing that is intrinsically good, according to Situation Ethics?
Love.
How does Situation Ethics view laws?
Love is the ruling law and replaces all other laws.
How are love and justice related in Situation Ethics?
Justice is love that is distributed.
How does Situation Ethics justify adultery in certain situations?
It considers adultery morally justified if it is the most loving action, such as a woman in a concentration camp getting pregnant to be released and reunited with her family.
How does Situation Ethics approach abortion in cases of rape?
It criticizes legalism for making the wrong decisions and emphasizes that the most loving action should be taken, rather than blindly following laws.
How does Fletcher justify Situation Ethics as a Christian theory?
He argues it is the best interpretation of Jesus’ teachings, which often opposed legalism.
What counterarguments suggest that Situation Ethics is not a Christian theory?
Critics argue that Jesus emphasized more than just love, as he also gave moral commandments and spoke about hell more than heaven.
How does Fletcher define conscience?
Conscience is not a noun (a thing) but a verb (an active process of moral decision-making).
How does Fletcher’s view of conscience differ from the traditional view?
Traditional views see conscience as an internal moral compass, while Fletcher sees it as a process of determining the most loving action in a situation.
Why is Situation Ethics suited for modern society, according to Fletcher?
Modern people are more educated and self-controlled, so they no longer need rigid moral laws but can be trusted to make loving decisions.
How does Situation Ethics avoid the problems of legalism?
It allows flexibility to make moral decisions based on love rather than outdated and inflexible rules.
What criticism does William Barclay offer against Situation Ethics?
He argues that it grants too much freedom, which can lead to selfishness or cruelty if love is not perfect.
How does psychology, such as the Stanford Prison Experiment, support Barclay’s criticism?
It shows that power corrupts people, so giving them the freedom to decide morality without strict laws can lead to abuse.
How do defenders of Situation Ethics respond to Barclay’s criticism?
They argue that while some people may misuse autonomy, legalistic morality is even worse because it is inflexible and outdated.
How does Fletcher justify his liberal approach to the Bible?
He argues that a strict legalistic interpretation is impossible because no one truly follows every biblical command literally.
What is Martin Luther’s counterargument to Fletcher’s approach?
Luther’s doctrine of sola scriptura states that moral authority comes from the Bible alone, not from individual moral reasoning.
How does Fletcher’s selective use of Jesus’ teachings weaken his argument?
Critics argue he ignores teachings that contradict his theory, such as Jesus condemning divorce and adultery.
What is the ultimate criticism of Situation Ethics in relation to Christianity?
It may lead to subjective morality (antinomianism) rather than a truly Christian ethical framework.
