Situation Ethics

Question 1

Who invented Situation Ethics?

Answer 1

Joseph Fletcher

Question 2

Pragmatism

Answer 2

Must work in practice

Question 3

Positivism

Answer 3

Love in faith rather than reason

Question 4

Relativism

Answer 4

To avoid a legalist inclination and ensure flexibility the system must be able to flex relative to agape.

Question 5

Personalism

Answer 5

People first, now laws.

Question 6

Fundamental principle:

No actions are…

Answer 6

…intrinsically right or wrong.

Question 7

Fundamental principle:

Justice is…

Answer 7

…love at work.

Question 8

Fundamental principle:

Love is practical…

Answer 8

…and not selective.

Question 9

Fundamental principle:

Love is…

Answer 9

…the end.

Question 10

Fundamental principle:

Humans have the…

Answer 10

…responsibility of freedom.

Question 11

Fundamental principle:

Good actions should…

Answer 11

…not be done for a reward.

Question 12

Phila

Answer 12

Friends

Question 13

Eros

Answer 13

Erotic

Question 14

Agape

Answer 14

Unconditional/self-sacrificial

Question 15

Name criticisms of the theory (Peter Vardy etc)

Answer 15

• Too vague
• Lacking moral values
• Over reliance on faith
• Too individualistic
• Humans are selfish
• Cannot know all consequences

Question 16

What did Peter Vardy say about subjectivity in page 131 of his puzzle of ethics?

Answer 16

“Because decisions must be made within a given situation, objectivity is impossible. How can one be certain that the perception of the situation is correct?”