Situation Ethics Flashcards
What is situation ethics?
Situation ethics is a relativistic and teleological approach to ethics as it seeks to bring about a greater good by focusing on the end result of actions.
It was developed by Joseph Fletcher and is rooted in the concept of love.
The social and cultural background of situation ethics:
The social and cultural background of the time it was formed is crucial to the development of situation ethics. Women began to occupy an increasingly prominent place in the workforce due to the absence of men during WW1.
The sexual revolution of the 60’s caused a post-war generation to express their new individualism through sex due to free contraception which liberated women.
What was the Church’s reaction to the social and cultural change?
- This change was not attractive to all, especially the church, who prepared a statement for abstinence from sexual intercourse before marriage.
- This rejection to old norms and the establishment allowed individuals to emphasis love which is now the key focus of situation ethics.
- These radical changes in society allowed people to be free to choose their moral decisions which made them feel empowered.
Outline the theory of situation ethics:
Fletcher argued that there should be a single and simple principle for where individuals can work out what the right thing to do is in their particular situation, he claimed that the only absolute rules was love.
This love is specifically agapeic love - selfless
What are Fletchers 6 working principles?
Fletcher developed six working principles to act as a guideline which has been put in place to help individuals whilst making moral decisions.
1) Love is the only means - this means that anything can be permitted if it delivers the most loving outcome.
This is seen as the most controversial as it is basically suggests anything is permitted if it delivers the most loving outcome, however love is very subjective.
2) Love is the only norm - a difficult principle to follow as Fletcher believed that Jesus replaced law with love, however the bible does not apply to the modern world, making it a challenge to follow.
How did Jesus reject laws and use situation ethics?
The adulterous woman - Jesus prevents a woman being stoned even though the law allowed her to be. Jesus rejected the laws and did the most loving/agapeic thing. This is evidence of personalism.
How did Fletcher use extreme situations?
Fletcher used the example “Sacrificial Adultery” where a prisoner of war woman debates on whether to have commit adultery in order to be released and sent back to her family.
The point Fletcher was making was that surely it was the best thing (the most loving thing) for the mother to break the Commandment “Do not commit adultery” in order to get home to her children.
How did Barclay challenge Fletcher and situation ethics?
- Barclay argues that Fletcher’s cases are extreme ones. He questions how often are we going to make the kind of life and death choices on which Fletcher bases situation ethics?
- Barclay says it is much easier to agree that extraordinary situations need extraordinary measures than to think that there are no laws for ordinary everyday life.
- Barclay suggests that law ensures that humans do not make an artificial distinction between public and private morality.
- Barclay’s criticisms suggest that Fletcher was overly optimistic about the capacity of human beings to make morally correct choices and not to be influenced by personal preferences.
How has situation ethics survived its challenges and criticisms?
It has partially survived the challenges raised against it as liberal Christians have attempted to live by the spirit rather than the letter of law.
This is illustrated by those who battle to protect the rights of homosexuals to enjoy Christian fellowship and those who permit divorcees to remarry in church services.
It allows for compassionate use for reason and ensures that inappropriate judgements are not made. We strive daily for the freedom to make choices situationally
How has situation ethics not survived its challenges and criticisms?
The BCC acknowledged the social changes that had occurred but were still drawn back to the notion of love as being characterised best by loyalty that transcends sexual desire.
They draw a harsh conclusion on the dangers of family break up; “Children are vulnerable and need loving marriages and secure homes for their development. A person who is responsible for a child’s lack of this sin against it.”
If we act in discrete ways in apparently similar circumstances, our actions would tend to appear to be unfair rather than moral. People like to be treated with a degree of consistency, and situation ethics permits inconsistency, even unreliability.
