Situation Ethics

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Teleological Christian ethic
Founded be Joseph Fletcher
'Situation Ethics'
Robinson 'Honest to God'
Agape, situational approach, 4 working presuppositions & 6 fundamental principles, formed when the church was facing drastic change

Question 2

Christian ethic

Answer 2

Based on agape
Only love is important
Eg. Jesus picked crops on Sabbath
“If I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” 1 Corinthians13
“Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself…that is the whole of moral duty”- William Temple

Question 3

Situational approach

Answer 3

Legalistic, antinomian, situational
Legalistic-rules, no exceptions
Antinomian-no rules + ad hoc= nihilism
Situational- an ‘in between’, one rule, most loving thing, flexible
Tillich says religion is about a person’s ‘ultimate concern’
Will to do good makes it right
Mrs bergemeir
“The situationalist follows a moral law or violates it according to loves need”

Question 4

Four working presuppositions and six fundamental principles

Answer 4

Pragmatism-work in practice
Relativism-relative to situation
Positivism- based on love
Personalism-based on people not rules
-‘love is the only norm’
In Mark 12:33 Jesus said most important commandment is to love God &thy neighbour
“Good or evil depends on whether love is fully served”-Fletcher
Others:
Love only is always good, love and justice are the same, love is not liking and always wills the neighbour’s good, love is the only means, love decides there&then