Situation Ethics - Quotes

Question 1

Legalism quote

Answer 1

‘any web thus woven…chokes its weavers’
- Fletcher

Question 2

Situationism quotes

Answer 2

situation ethics is ‘empiricial, fact-minded, data conscious, inquiring’

‘For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’
- Galatians 5:14

‘only valid if they happen to serve love in any situation’
- Fletcher

Question 3

Pragmatism quotes

Answer 3

‘a pragmatist turns his back upon fixed principles’
- Fletcher

‘he turns toward concreteness and adequacy’
- Fletcher

Question 4

Relativism quote

Answer 4

“The situationist avoids words like ‘never’ and ‘perfect’ and ‘always’ and complete’ “

Question 5

Positivism quote

Answer 5

” ‘faith working through love,’ is the essence and pith of Christian ethics”

Question 6

First proposition quotes

Answer 6

‘Only one ‘thing’ is intrinsically good; namely, love: nothing else at all.’

‘whatever is the most loving thing in the situation is the right and good thing’

Question 7

Second proposition quotes

Answer 7

‘The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else.’

love replaces law
‘…drop the legalist’s love of law, and accept only the law of love.’

Question 8

Third proposition quotes

Answer 8

‘Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.’

Question 9

Fourth proposition quotes

Answer 9

‘Love wills the neighbour’s good whether we like him or not.’

‘Christian love is the business of loving the unlovable’

Question 10

Fifth proposition quotes

Answer 10

‘Only the end justifies the means; nothing else’

‘Surgeons have to mutilate bodies to remove cancers, some priests have to give up married love… But in such cases it is worth it.’

Question 11

Sixth proposition quote

Answer 11

‘Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively’