teleological approach to moral decisions

Question 1

what is situation ethics?

Answer 1

teleological ethical theory that approaches every moral situation with an open mind and act in the most loving way

Question 2

who developed situation ethics?

Answer 2

Joseph fletcher (1966)

Question 3

why is situation ethics seen as a liberal approach to ethics

Answer 3

fletcher supported euthanasia and abortions in circumstances

Question 4

what is situation ethics based on?

Answer 4

heavily influenced by New Testament teachings therefor a religious theory

Question 5

how does situation ethics work?

Answer 5

there is no fixed rules or moral absolutes only one duty and that is to love

Question 6

what are the four types of love?

Answer 6

phillia - friendship
storge - family
eros - sexual
agape - unconditional love

Question 7

what two ways does situation ethics disagree on how to make a decision

Answer 7

legalistic way (condemned by Jesus)
antinomian way

Question 8

what is the legalistic way

Answer 8

every decision is made based on a set of rules

Question 9

how did Jesus influence situation ethics

Answer 9

many occasions Jesus rejects the law and shows agape love instead

Question 10

describe how Jesus showed love over the law regarding the adulterous women

Answer 10

Jesus was told that the woman was caught in the act of adultery. Law of Moses it commands us to stone such woman. Jesus began writing in the sand drawing attention away from the woman as they kept asking what do to with her. Jesus said “let any of you who is without sin throw the first stone” they all put their stones down and left

Question 11

what are the four working principles to bear in mind before making a decision (according to fletcher)

Answer 11

pragmatism
relativism
positivism
personalism

Question 12

what is pragmatism

Answer 12

decision must work towards love and still solve moral problems

Question 13

what is relativism

Answer 13

no moral absolutes it depends solely on the situation

Question 14

what is positivism

Answer 14

u approach every decision asking what Jesus would do

Question 15

what is personalism

Answer 15

people are more important than laws

Question 16

what would a situationists opinions be on a homosexual relationship?

Answer 16

nothing wrong with it in principle as we shouldn’t hold a legalistic approach over peoples love. personalism encourages us to put people first

Question 17

what circumstances would allow an abortion for situationists vs against

Answer 17

if a woman had been raped then an abortion would be deemed moral but if she just didn’t want to have a baby bump then its seen as immoral

Question 18

strengths of situation ethics?

Answer 18

situation ethics is easy to understand because u only follow one rule to show love

Question 19

weaknesses of situation ethics?

Answer 19

people desire love in different ways therefor this theory can justify murder rape and lying as the word love is very vague

Question 20

who developed utilitarianism

Answer 20

Jeremy Bentham

Question 21

why did Bentham create utilitarianism

Answer 21

wanted to find a way of defining right and wrong without the need of a transcendent authority (God)

Question 22

explain Benthams principle of unity

Answer 22

happiness is produced by the admin

It can’t be for one person alone - Bentham argued that a moral act results in the maximum possible happiness for the majority

Question 23

what is the hedonic calculus?

Answer 23

a way of measuring how much pleasure our actions would create (created by Bentham)

Question 24

what are the seven factors within hedonic calculus

Answer 24

intensity
duration
certainty
remoteness - how soon
richness - will it lead to more
purity - will it be free from pain
extent - how many will experience

Question 25

what is act utilitarianism?

Answer 25

when an act is moral if it maximises overall well- being the act can be decided by using the hedonic calculus

Question 26

disadvantages of act utilitarianism?

Answer 26

fails to account for personal relationships e.g saving mum over stranger

allows minority groups to be miss-treated by majority as it makes them happy e.g nazi party

it has potential to justify any act

Question 27

strengths of act utilitarianism

Answer 27

any theory that aims to promote the most happiness is beneficial for society

may be more universal than natural law as it doesn’t depend on religious beliefs

Question 28

how did John Stuart mill develop Benthams theory?

Answer 28

by shifting the focus from quantity of pleasure to quality. Bentham saw all pleasure as equal whereas mill disagreed a thought their was different levels of pleasure

Question 29

what is rule utilitarianism?

Answer 29

created by John Stuart mill, said rules should be formulated first based on utilitarian principles then the individual can judge if the act is moral or not

Question 30

apply utilitarianism to the use of contraception

Answer 30

morally acceptable as a couple can enjoy sex without wearing about unwanted pregnancy

Question 31

apply utilitarianism to homosexual relationships

Answer 31

both Bentham and mill campaigned for homosexuality to be legalised
they saw no problem as the two people found pleasure in being with each other - it is also not a religious theory no it is not deemed immoral