Situation Ethics Flashcards
Situation ethics
Relativist- no universal moral rights and wrongs.
Teleological- goal of our actions should base for moral judgement.
Consequentialist- based on right or wrong depending on the consequences.
Fletcher’s theory
What Fletcher rejects in situation ethics
He reject’s legalism- all our actions should be governed by rules. This is because it stop’s people thinking for themselves.
He reject’s antinomianism- there should be no ethical rules at all, because people may not be able to understand the difference between right and wrong.
He also rejects the conscience because he believes that the conscience is not a noun but a verb, so God cant be working inside us but instead it’s the brain’s process of working out moral decisions.
The middle ground
Fletcher believed that situation ethics should be based on the ideal middle ground between legalism and antinomianism. such as “school dress code is smart casual”.
The boss principle- agape
It’s consequentialist, and it’s based on love, if an action creates love its good, if an action doesn’t create love or is selfish it’s a bad act. Agape means selfless love.
Selfless love (agape) 3 parts
Love is directed outwards towards others, love is given unconditionally, love is given constantly. Kobe did all this, when he sacrificed himself as other man said he has wife and kids.
The 6 fundamental principles
Designed to help us understand why the use of love/agape is the best principle for an ethical approach. It helps us to determine what the most loving action in any given situation would be.
The 6 fundamental principles- Ginger Nut Jams And Maple Syrup
love is the only GOOD love is the ruling NORM of Christianity love=JUSTICE love for ALL loving ends justify the MEANS love decides SITUATIONALLY
The 4 working principles- Peter Rabbit Pops Pills
Designed to help us apply situation ethics in practical real life. PRAGMATISM- practical RELATIVISM POSITIVISM- based on faith not reason. PERSONALISM
Evidence from Jesus
Love your neighbour as yourself.
Evidence from St Paul
“and now these 3 remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”
Application to homosexual relationships
Morally good when love is involved as love is the only good. Relativism states that no action is right or wrong in itself, therefore the relationship is neither right or wrong.
Morally bad when the relationship is based on lust. It goes against the rules of Christianity but personalism says people are more important than rules.
Application to polyamorous relationships
Morally good if the consequences lead to agape for all.
Morally bad if the relationship is based on lust.
