Situation Ethics Chapter 11 Flashcards

1
Q

Who was William Temple?

A

the person Fletcher studied
Archbishop
His ethic was personalist and Love - centered
Situatonalist
His view was consistent with Aquila’s judgement

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2
Q

How is Fletchers view similar to Temples?

A

Shares key assumption that there is one fundamental axiom LOVE

The notion that last justice is Love in action

The insistence on personalism

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3
Q

What are the 3 approaches to moral life according to Fletcher

A

Legalism

Antiomionism

Situatuonism

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4
Q

What is legalism

A

Believes that there are fixed moral rules that are universal and should always be followed

Believes it a fault in Christianity and other religious because it leaders to Puritanism making the rule something with greater dignity that the person

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5
Q

What is antinomionism

A

Denial of possibility of any rules we just follow our own choices

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6
Q

What is situationist

A

Fletchers position

Absolutely rule of love but has to be applied situationally

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7
Q

What are his four working principles

A

Pragmatism

Relativism

Positivism

Personalism

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8
Q

Explain pragmatism

A

Must seek practical solutions which work to achieve success

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9
Q

Explain relativism

A

He argues that whatever we do must be related to both the facts about ourselves and what we can do aswell as the facts of the situation

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10
Q

Explain positivism

A

Belief in a God of love or higher good

Because we have this live we must reason our what supports that love in the situation that faces us

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11
Q

Personalism

A

Requires that we place people not principles at the centre of all moral considerations

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12
Q

Strengths of 4 working principles

A

Pragmatic - people who work in pastoral areas need ethical system that can be applied to a person rather than rules

Love is central - same as gospel, conforms to commandments

Flexible - benefits pastoral workers

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13
Q

Weaknesses of 4 working principles

A

Whatever works is morally dubious - does pragmatism dispense truth for utility

Person vs Rules is false - can justify actions regardless if they are sinful

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14
Q

What are the 6 propositions and what are they for?

A

Should be followed in our judgements of what to do

Love is intrinsically good 
Love is the ruling norm 
Love and justice are the same thing 
Love is equal 
Love is ultimate 
Love is situational
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15
Q

What Type of theory is it?

A

Teleological

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16
Q

Does situation ethics agree with faith?

A

Fletchers book uses Christian literature references

Jesus also makes love central

He gave up being a Christian but not situation ethics

Can be non - Christian as they can replace agape with something like Aristotle’s flourishing

17
Q

Fletcher on conscience

A

It is not a noun but a verb

Term describes a process of putting love into action

Rejects idea that it is a intuition for divine guidance not Gods voice

18
Q

Strengths of situation ethics for moral guidance

A

Individual - personal

Flexible - deals with problems from deontological theories

Attractive - pastoral workers

19
Q

Weaknesses of situation ethics giving moral guidance

A

Outdated - from the era of free live and hippies

Weakness of consequentialism - same problem as act utilitarianism

Too thin - lacks coherent account of Christian ethics

Too vague - people need rules to prevent social problems

Skin deep- essentially antinomionism with agape to make it appeal to Christians

Uncertainty - hard to know what the right thing is to do

20
Q

Objections summary 6

A

Doesn’t define situation
Vague in defining good for the people
Same problems as act utilitarianism as it’s teleological
Are no actions intrinsically wrong? Anthony O Hear
Is loving to declare some humans as not people such as downs
D.Z.Phillips - how to be confident on what’s right
Evangelicals - bible has firm rules doesn’t allow exceptions