Situation ethics? Flashcards
What is Situation ethics?
Situation Ethics, developed by Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s, is rooted in Christian theology but also applicable to non-religious frameworks. It argues that moral decisions should be based on the context of a situation rather than fixed moral laws. Fletcher asserts that laws are not inherently good or bad but should be judged by their usefulness in specific contexts. The highest moral principle is agape, or unconditional sacrificial love.
Four working principles?
The four working principles of Situation Ethics are:
Pragmatism: Actions must be practical and achievable, grounded in reality.
Relativism: Moral rules, like “do not kill,” become relative to love; decisions are based on the loving outcome in the situation.
Positivism: Ethics begins with faith in love, not reason, as guided by Jesus’ command to love your neighbor.
Personalism: People take precedence over rules, as demonstrated by Jesus’ teachings that prioritize humanity over strict adherence to laws.
6 fundamental principles?
The six fundamental principles of Situation Ethics are:
Only love is intrinsically good: Love is always good, while everything else has conditional value based on its impact on people.
The ruling norm is love: Love is the central rule in Christian decision-making.
Love and justice are the same: Justice is love distributed, with love being the only ethical goal.
Love wills the neighbor’s good: Love extends to everyone, including those we dislike.
Only the ends justify the means: The consequences of an action, if they maximize love, justify the action, regardless of the means.
Love decides there and then: Ethical decisions are made in the moment, based on the situation.
Legalism, situation ethics + antinomianism
Legalism, Situation Ethics, and Antinomianism:
Legalism: Belief in fixed, unchangeable rules; provides clear guidance but can be inflexible and fail to account for specific situations.
Antinomianism: Belief that no rules or laws should be followed, which leads to moral chaos and anarchy but offers flexibility to address individual situations.
Situation Ethics: A middle ground between legalism and antinomianism. It avoids the rigidness of legalism and the disorder of antinomianism by applying the absolute principle of love to each situation, ensuring both clear guidance and flexibility. The most loving action in any situation is considered the right one.
Agape?
Agape refers to selfless, unconditional love for others simply because they are human, distinct from romantic or familial love. Rooted in Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbor,” it is the core principle in Situation Ethics. Fletcher argues that religious rules, like the Ten Commandments, hold value only insofar as they enable agape. For example, Fletcher suggests in extreme situations, such as saving a family from bandits, it may be more loving to make difficult choices, like killing a baby to save lives. Agape, in Fletcher’s view, aligns with reason and aims to seek the best interest of others, similar to utilitarianism.
Conscience?
Fletcher viewed the conscience as an active, intuitive process rather than a fixed entity. He believed it functions as a moral compass, helping individuals determine the requirements of agape in any given situation.
