Situation Ethics💖 Flashcards
who founded situation ethics?
Joseph fletcher
what were Joseph Fletcher’s dates?
1905-1991
what year was ‘situation ethics: The new morality’ founded?
1966
who was Joseph Fletcher?
an american professor🌎 and an active member of the Episcopalian union
what sort of ethic is situation ethics?
a christian ethic just without all the rules
what was situation ethics a rebellion against?
The strict deontological rule based ethics of Christianity
what did Fletcher reject?
legalism
antinomianism
conscience
why did fletcher reject legalism?
it stops people thinking for themselves
fletcher states that legalism is a “choking web…”
“…of laws.”
why did fletcher reject antinomianism?
because he felt that people still need some form of ethical guidance other wise people would become amoral, society would slip into anarchy
why did fletcher reject the conscience?
it is not reliable as it is a a verb ( a process) according to Fletcher, it’s a chemical process and can not be relied upon to make moral decisons
situation ethics is the _______ _______ between the extremes of legalism and antinomianism
middle ground
what is the one principle that situation ethics is based on?
Agape love💖
is situation ethics deontological or teleological?
teleological- focuses on the end purpose ( if the action creates agape love)
an action is good if it…
creates agape love
an action is bad if it…
creates selfishness
why did fletcher create 11 principles?
to help people understand situation ethics better
what categories are the 11 principles broken up into?
- the boss principle (1)
- the fundamental principles (6)
- the working principles (4)
the Greek work agape originates from the Hebrew word…
aheb- seen in the old testament
agape love is demonstrated in the actions of…
Jesus
what is the greatest commandment?
“love God your neighbour as yourself”
what did St Augustine say agape love was?
the ultimate virtue
why did Fletcher create the six fundamental principles?
to help moral agents to understand the theory better and because he accepted that the boss principle can be vague
what are the six fundamental principles? (granny Norma’s jams)
- love is the only good
- love is the ruling norm or Christianity
- love equals justice
- love for all
- loving ends justify the means
- love decides situationally
“… but the greatest of these is…”
“…love”
St Paul
what did Jesus do that demonstrates that love is the ruling norm?
Jesus worked on the Sabbath
what did Jesus say that supports “love for all”?
” love your enemies”
according to Fletcher, strict deontological rules are, “ too rigid to…”
“… fit the facts if life.”
what were the four working principles designed for?
to clarify bow the boss principle works in practice
what are the 4 working principles?
- pragmatism
- relativism
- positivism
- personalism
is situation ethics relativist or universal?
relativist
Pope Pius XII condemned situation ethics as, “an individualistic ethic designed to…”
“… justify actions opposed by God.”
why do many theologians deny that situation ethics is a Christian ethic?
because it ignores large aspects of the Bible
which two important people in the new testament does Fletcher argue to support situation ethics?
- Jesus
- St Paul
what do we need to apply situation ethics to?
- homosexual relationships👬
- polyamorous relationships👫👬👭👫
“Only one thing is intristically good,…”
“Love: nothing else at all.”
“Love wills the neighbours good…”
“…whether we like him or not.”
