Situational Ethics

Question 1

Key idea in Joseph Fletchers philosophy

Answer 1

Agape - unconditional love. Seen through Gods love for creation and the command that people love their neighbours.

Question 2

Who did Fletcher meet that inspired him in creating this ethic.

Answer 2

The taxi driver that his friend met in St. Louis. Came from a long line of republican voters but said that he needed to put his principles down and vote democrats as it was the right thing to do. Just like in situational ethics where principles of the bible are put down in order to promote love.

Question 3

Fletchers 3 approaches to ethics

Answer 3

Legalism - over reliance on rules. E.g, the Pharisees that had 613 rules by the time of Jesus
Situationalism - the in between of the two extremes, taking principles from your community and using them to ‘illuminate’ situations.
Antinomianism - no laws, do whatever u wish in each situation.

Question 4

4 working principles

Answer 4

1. Pragmatism
2. Relativism
3. Positivism
4. Personalism

Question 5

6 propositions

Answer 5

1. Only on thing is intrinsically good - love.
2. The ruling norm of Christianity is love.
3. Love and justice are the same. Justice is love distributed.
4. Love wills the neighbours good whether we like him or not.
5. Only the ends justifies the means, nothing else.
6. Love decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.

Question 6

Fletchers example of abortion after rape

Answer 6

A young woman became pregnant after being raped. The patients father requested an abortion but this was denied by doctors. Fletcher argues that this is the wrong decision, therefore showing that legalism can make the wrong decision. Situational ethics is person centred not legalistic.

Question 7

Fletchers example of euthanasia.

Answer 7

A terminally ill man is offered treatment that will prolong his life for a few extra months, however means that his family cannot collect life insurance. Fletcher argues that he doesn’t have to take the medicine, although Christianity may argue the opposite. It is more important that the outcome is good - teleological theory.

Question 8

A01 potential introduction

Answer 8

Situational ethics is seen by its founder, Joseph Fletcher, as a middle position between legalism, as seen through the approach of the Pharisees, and antinomianism, the belief that no rules are needed. This was developed in the 1960s, during a time of great change. Fletcher argued that the one principle needed was agape love, an unconditional love. In all moral dilemmas, our one principle should be that we do which leads to the most loving outcome.

Question 9

What is conscience according to Fletcher?

Answer 9

A verb.