Situation Ethics - Ethics

Question 1

Who created Situation Ethics and when?

Answer 1

Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s.

Question 2

What was the social context in which Situation Ethics emerged?

Answer 2

The 1960s, a time of radical social change and movements against traditional structures.

Question 3

How does Fletcher’s Situation Ethics relate to liberal Christianity?

Answer 3

It embodies liberal Christianity by rejecting strict moral laws in favor of love-based ethics.

Question 4

What is legalism according to Fletcher?

Answer 4

The belief that people require fixed moral rules.

Question 5

What is antinomianism?

Answer 5

The view that there are no moral rules or laws to follow.

Question 6

How does Situation Ethics position itself between legalism and antinomianism?

Answer 6

It claims to be a middle ground, avoiding the rigidity of legalism and chaos of antinomianism.

Question 7

What is the one absolute principle in Situation Ethics?

Answer 7

Agape – selfless Christian love.

Question 8

How does Situation Ethics determine whether an action is good?

Answer 8

If it produces the most loving consequence in a situation.

Question 9

What is Agape?

Answer 9

Selfless, unconditional Christian love, as emphasized by Jesus.

Question 10

What biblical teaching does Fletcher base Agape on?

Answer 10

‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ – Jesus’ greatest commandment.

Question 11

What is Fletcher’s example involving a crying baby and bandits?

Answer 11

Killing the baby may be the most loving act to save the family.

Question 12

What are Fletcher’s four working principles?

Answer 12

Pragmatism, Relativism, Positivism, and Personalism.

Question 13

What is Pragmatism in Situation Ethics?

Answer 13

Moral decisions must be practical and work in the situation.

Question 14

What does Relativism mean for Fletcher?

Answer 14

Moral rules are relative to love, not all relative moral claims are valid.

Question 15

What is Positivism in Fletcher’s theory?

Answer 15

It requires faith in love as a starting point, not reason.

Question 16

What is Personalism?

Answer 16

People are more important than rules.

Question 17

What does Fletcher mean by ‘relativizing the absolute’?

Answer 17

Turning absolute moral rules like ‘do not kill’ into relative guidelines depending on love.

Question 18

What does Fletcher mean by ‘not absolutizing the relative’?

Answer 18

Not all moral claims are valid; only those relative to love are.

Question 19

Why does Fletcher reject reason-based ethics like Kantianism?

Answer 19

Because he believes ethics must begin with faith in love, not rational deduction.

Question 20

What quote from Jesus supports Personalism?

Answer 20

‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’.

Question 21

What are the six fundamental principles of Situation Ethics?

Answer 21

Only love is intrinsically good, love is the norm, justice is love distributed, love wills the neighbor’s good, only the end justifies the means, love decides there and then.

Question 22

Why is only love intrinsically good in Fletcher’s theory?

Answer 22

Because it is always good unconditionally; everything else depends on context.

Question 23

How does Fletcher define justice?

Answer 23

Justice is love distributed.

Question 24

What does ‘love wills the neighbor’s good whether we like him or not’ mean?

Answer 24

Love should be extended even to those we dislike.

Question 25

What does Fletcher’s consequentialism entail?

Answer 25

The morality of an action is determined solely by its loving outcome.

Question 26

How should decisions be made according to Situation Ethics?

Answer 26

There and then, based on the situation.

Question 27

How does Fletcher view conscience?

Answer 27

As a verb, a process of moral reasoning, not a moral compass or intuition.

Question 28

What is the role of conscience in Situation Ethics?

Answer 28

To determine what love requires in a specific situation.

Question 29

What does it mean that Fletcher sees conscience as a verb?

Answer 29

It’s an action or process, not a thing you possess.

Question 30

What is a key strength of Situation Ethics?

Answer 30

It adapts Christian ethics to modern, more autonomous societies.

Question 31

How do Fletcher and Robinson view modern humanity?

Answer 31

As having come of age – more mature, educated, and capable.

Question 32

What is William Barclay’s main criticism of Situation Ethics?

Answer 32

It gives people too much freedom, risking selfishness and cruelty.

Question 33

Why does Barclay think legalism is still necessary?

Answer 33

Because people are not good or wise enough to act lovingly without strict rules.

Question 34

How does Fletcher counter Barclay’s concern?

Answer 34

He argues that people’s growing maturity justifies granting them moral autonomy.

Question 35

What does Barclay mean by 'freedom can become selfishness and even cruelty'?

Answer 35

Without perfect love, moral freedom may be abused.

Question 36

How does Situation Ethics relate to legalism in the Bible?

Answer 36

It rejects a literalist legalistic approach, seeing biblical laws as suggestions relative to love.

Question 37

Why does Fletcher oppose sola scriptura?

Answer 37

Because taking the Bible literally or interpreting it authoritatively is flawed and unworkable.

Question 38

What does Fletcher say about biblical rules like 'do not resist an evil person'?

Answer 38

They are paradigms or suggestions, not absolute laws.

Question 39

What is the liberal view of biblical inspiration?

Answer 39

The Bible is not God’s perfect word but a source of moral inspiration.

Question 40

How does Situation Ethics treat biblical prohibitions like those on homosexuality?

Answer 40

It allows them to be overridden by agape.

Question 41

What criticism does W.L. Craig offer against Fletcher?

Answer 41

That justice is as important as love in Christian ethics.

Question 42

Why do some argue Fletcher’s theory isn’t truly Christian?

Answer 42

It prioritizes love so much that it resembles secular ethics.

Question 43

How does Fletcher defend his interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 43

By claiming biblical interpretation is inherently subjective, making love the best guide.

Question 44

How does Situation Ethics risk subjectivity?

Answer 44

Because love is a personal, potentially biased concept.

Question 45

What is the Nazi example used to critique subjectivity in love?

Answer 45

A Nazi might believe killing Jews is loving, showing danger of personal interpretations.

Question 46

How does Fletcher respond to the Nazi critique?

Answer 46

Agape requires selfless love, which Nazis lacked.

Question 47

What is Hitchens' criticism of 'love your neighbour as yourself'?

Answer 47

It depends on how you love yourself, which may be flawed.

Question 48

Why is agape said to be more objective than general love?

Answer 48

Because it includes a standard – loving others as you love yourself.

Question 49

How does Situation Ethics compare to secular ethics?

Answer 49

It shares similarities by focusing on consequences and well-being.

Question 50

What is antinomianism and how does it relate to Situation Ethics?

Answer 50

Lawlessness; critics argue Situation Ethics leans toward it due to subjectivity.

Question 51

What strength does Situation Ethics have in modern society?

Answer 51

Its flexibility makes it suited to new technologies and situations.

Question 52

How does Fletcher's conscience concept contribute to flexibility?

Answer 52

By allowing ethical reasoning to adapt to each case.

Question 53

What is the Catholic Natural Law critique of Situation Ethics?

Answer 53

It goes too far with relativism and undermines ethical absolutes.

Question 54

How does Aquinas' Natural Law differ from Fletcher’s ethics?

Answer 54

It allows some flexibility but maintains fixed moral principles.

Question 55

Why do Catholics oppose Fletcher’s pragmatism?

Answer 55

Because it leads to relativism that threatens moral order.

Question 56

What is the double effect and how is it relevant?

Answer 56

Aquinas’ idea that some acts are justifiable if the bad effect is unintended.

Question 57

How does Mother Theresa critique relativistic ethics?

Answer 57

She claims that moral relativism devalues life and peace.

Question 58

What does Pope Pius XII say about Situation Ethics?

Answer 58

It risks undermining Christian morality and leads to antinomianism.

Question 59

What is Fletcher’s response to social order arguments?

Answer 59

That modern secular societies without strict moral laws are still stable.

Question 60

How does Situation Ethics challenge sanctity of life?

Answer 60

By focusing on quality of life and loving outcomes instead.

Question 61

How does the Stanford Prison Experiment relate to criticisms of Situation Ethics?

Answer 61

It shows how power without rules leads to immorality.

Question 62

Why might Fletcher’s approach be considered too individualistic?

Answer 62

Because it relies on personal judgment rather than shared norms.

Question 63

What is Fletcher’s view of the Bible as a moral guide?

Answer 63

A source of loving paradigms, not fixed commands.

Question 64

How is justice understood in Fletcher’s ethics?

Answer 64

As love fairly distributed.

Question 65

How do critics say Situation Ethics risks moral chaos?

Answer 65

By removing clear standards and relying on personal interpretation.

Question 66

Why is 'only the end justifies the means' controversial?

Answer 66

Because it can appear to condone immoral acts if done for love.

Question 67

How does Situation Ethics reinterpret Jesus' ethics?

Answer 67

As prioritizing love over legalistic rules.

Question 68

What is the meaning of 'deciding there and then' in Fletcher’s principles?

Answer 68

Each moral situation must be judged in its own context.

Question 69

What does Fletcher mean by saying 'love is the norm'?

Answer 69

Love is the standard by which all actions should be judged.

Question 70

What biblical example supports Situation Ethics?

Answer 70

Jesus allowing rule-breaking like healing on the Sabbath.

Question 71

Why is love considered an absolute in Fletcher’s theory?

Answer 71

Because it is the only principle that never changes.

Question 72

How is Situation Ethics both religious and humanistic?

Answer 72

It draws from Jesus’ teachings but focuses on human well-being.