Situation Ethics

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Joseph fletcher - situation ethics 1966
Caused a lot of controversy
No definite moral law - the morally right thing to do is entirely situational
- always the most loving thing - this type of love is agape - brotherly love - Jesus greatest commandment

Question 2

Para 1

William temple to Joseph fletcher

Answer 2

William temple - nature man and god 1934
Love + respect is most important
Most loving thing to do is situational
Inspired fletcher
Love = only thing intrinsically good
Both men believed justice is live in action and love is not a noun but a verb - only a noun for god
Personalism - people before laws

Question 3

Para 2

Legalism and antinomianism

Answer 3

Legalism and antinomianism - middle way - situation ethics - only one rule

Question 4

Para 3

Propositions

Answer 4

6 propositions

Explain each proposition

Question 5

Para 4

Working principles

Answer 5

4 working principles 
Pragmatism 
Relativism
Positivism 
Personalism

Question 6

Para 5

Conscience

Answer 6

Conscience - verb - something we do when we make a decision not a voice of god or intutition or internalised views of society which are all nouns

Question 7

Para 6

Pastoral workers

Answer 7

Good for pastoral workers - no fixed laws so can be applied to whoever they see and every stigmatising - personal freedom to decide - flexible

Question 8

Para 7

Simple

Answer 8

Simplicity - quick and easy - only one rule but does not reject other rules - allows us to see them as guidelines - not fixed

Question 9

Para 8

Consequences

Answer 9

Consequences - will the act end up to be the most loving thing?? - can’t see consequences
Eg save a man and then he becomes mass murderer
Save man was most loving thing at the time but not in the end - subjective

Question 10

Para 9

What is love?

Answer 10

What is “love”? No rules as to what it means - Hitler thought he was doing the most living hong for his country - we can only see situation form our own perspective - subjective - makes it hard for us to see consequences for everyone

Question 11

Para 10

Lack of rules

Answer 11

Lack of rules - allows people to go to extremes and still claim to be doing most loving thing

Question 12

Conclusion

Answer 12

Plausible? No
Too vague
Ourdated - hippies and free love
Too subjective uncertain