situation ethics

Question 1

What is situation ethics?

Answer 1

A relativist theory, in which one accompanies a reasonable and justifiable decision depending on the situation that they are in.

Question 2

What type of argument is this theory?

Answer 2

A teleological argument.

Question 3

Who developed this theory?

Answer 3

Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991)

Question 4

Who did Fletcher deeply study?

Answer 4

William Temple (1881-1944)

Question 5

What approach was Temples ethics?

Answer 5

It was personalised and love-centred: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Question 6

What does Fletcher reject and believe?

Answer 6

He rejects the legalism and antinomianism ethics. He believes that we need to find a balance between the legalism and antinomianism. The middle way.

Question 7

Definition of legalism:

Answer 7

Fixed moral rules that are universal and absolute.

Question 8

Definition of antinomianism:

Answer 8

The view that the rules and principles should be rejected.

Question 9

What is Fletchers theory based on?

Answer 9

Agape love (unconditional Christian love. Love your strangers). Meaning that no action is wrong or right, it is situational. Reason why theory is a relativist theory.

Question 10

What is agape love based on?

Answer 10

• Love that is unconditional.
• Based on a platonic love.
• Can be from one stranger to another.

Question 11

What are the three ethical positions?

Answer 11

Legalistic:
-absolute
-no exceptions
-Devine command theory
Situational:
-Love is the only absolute
-Relativist
-Consequentialism
Antinomianism:
-Total autonomy 
-No rules 
-No absolutes.

Question 12

What are the four working principles?

Answer 12

1- Pragmatism= Must be practical.
2-Relativism= No fixed rules. Only love is absolute.
3-Positivism= Must put faith before reasoning.
4-Personalism= People should be the centre of the theory.

Question 13

What are the six propositions?

Answer 13

-1-“Only one ‘thing’ is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all”
+Love is the only absolute.
-2-“The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else”
+Christian decision making is based on love.
-3-“Love and justice are the same,for justice is love distributed nothing else”
+Justice is love distributed.
-4-“Love wills the neighbour’s good whether we like him or not”
+Love wants the good for anyone whoever they are.
-5-“Only the end justifies the means; nothing else”
+Only the end justifies the means.
-6-“Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively”
+Love is acted out situationally not prescriptively.

Question 14

Faith and situation ethics:

Answer 14

-Fletcher doesn’t make it clear that situation ethics requires a Christian belief.
[in bible, Jesus makes love central]
[Gospel of John emphasises the theme of love].
-Fletcher gave up his Christian belief but not his situation ethics.

Question 15

Fletcher on conscience:

Answer 15

• Believes our conscience is not something that is a voice from within.
• Understands the term conscience as a verb. Describes it as a performing an act in a particular way.
• Fletcher believes that our conscience is not reliable.

Question 16

Aquinas’s view on conscience:

Answer 16

• Aquinas, following Aristotle, treated our conscience as the practical reason.
• Allows us to work out what we ought to do.
• Allows us to reflect back on what our actions.
• Allows us to examine our actions, the good or bad.
• Aquinas treats our conscience as our factuality of the mind, covering different aspects of thoughts.
• Aquinas believes that our conscience is a gift from God.

Question 17

Example of love over law:

Answer 17

-Jesus prevented a woman being stoned, even though the law allowed her to be.
+Evidence of personalism.

Question 18

Catholic church response to situation ethics:

-A critique.

Answer 18

• Pope banned situation ethics to being discussed.
• It was wrong to break Gods law.
• Situation ethics is subjective; because decision are made from in the situation as it is perceived to be.

Question 19

What are the strengths?

Answer 19

• Allows one to make a sensible and reasonable decision that they know will not suit them.
• Allows every situation to be individualised.
• Main principle of theory is agape love.
• Encourages good behaviour
• Allows one to break certain for the greater good.

Question 20

what are the weaknesses?

Answer 20

• It is human nature to love family over stranger.
• Agape love is too much to aspire to and may be polluted by a selfish human tendency.
• Fletcher seems equally too vague in defining what the good for people actually is.