Situation Ethics Flashcards
Who founded it?
Joseph fletcher
What approach is it and what type of theory is it?
Relativist approach and is a teleological theory
What are it’s 4 principles ?
Pragmatism- demands that a proposed course of action should work and that its success or failure should be judged according to the principle.
Relativism- rejects absolutes such as “never” or “always”
Positivism- recognised love is the most important criterion of all
Personalism- demands that people should be put first
What are the 6 fundamental principles that fletcher argued?
Love is all important- only love is good in and and of itself
Love replaces law
Love and justice are the same- for love is justice distributed
Love is agape and is always good and is the only norm
Only the end of love justifies the means- end must be the most loving result
The situation is vital- actions that serve love best are right
Strengths of situation ethics?
It is in accordance with the gospel representation of Jesus and his teaching
It’s personal and particular - sensitive to circumstances, every moral decision is required to demonstrate respect for individuals
Based on doing good- teaches that right acts are those motivated by the wish to promote the well being of people
Champions love over law as Jesus did
Accounts for the complexities of human life
Weaknesses of the situation ethics ?
Excludes most universal moral truths- by doing this it seems to remove any possibility of guaranteeing universal human rights
It can’t produce consistent results- produces a lack of consistent from one situation to the next. It would be easier and more just and loving to treat similar situations similarly. (Too individualistic and liberal)
Common sense dictates that there are some things that are wrong in themselves
The principles of situation ethics?
Right and wrong depend upon the situation
There are no universal moral rules or rights- each case is unique and deserves a unique solution
It teaches that ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis
Based not on law but on a single moral principle “agape”
Fletchers 3 approaches to morality?
Legalism- conservative, rule based morality
Antinomianism- the polar opposite to legalism, no rules or maxims can be applied to a moral situation
Situationism- a midway between legalism and antinomianism
What did fletcher maintain that love is?
That love is the principle of utility- it’s a principle that can be applied in situation and which will enable us to achieve the greatest good
