The Four Working Principles Flashcards
What are the 4 working principles?
-They describe how Situation ethics works
-pragmatism, relativism, personalism and positivism
What is pragmatism?
-Pragmatism is one of the four working principles in Joseph Fletcher’s ethical theory of situation ethics
-This principle emphasizes that a proposed course of action should be practical and effective, judged based on whether it maximizes love in a situation.
What does pragmatism differ to situation ethics?
This principle stands in contrast to deontological ethics, which emphasizes adherence to absolute moral rules, regardless of the consequences. Instead, pragmatism asserts that decisions should aim to produce tangible, positive outcomes for the people involved.
What’s a case study that showcases pragmatism in action?
For example, in the case of the conjoined twins Mary and Jodie, the decision to separate them was based on pragmatism. The doctors chose to save one twin (Jodie) at the cost of the other (Mary) because allowing both to die would have been impractical and failed to prioritize love and the practical wellbeing of at least one child. The principle of pragmatism ensures that reason becomes “the instrument of moral judgement,” guiding choices that are realistic and beneficial
What’s relativism ?
Relativism is one of the four working principles in Fletcher’s situation ethics, emphasizing that moral decisions must be judged in the context of the situation rather than through rigid, absolute rules.
What did Fletcher say about relativism ?
-Fletcher argued that commands like “do not commit adultery” or “do not lie” must be made relative to love and the specific circumstances.
-For example, while lying is generally considered wrong, in a situation where telling the truth would cause significant harm, it might be justified to lie if it serves the most loving outcome.
-This principle holds that only love is absolute, while other moral rules are flexible and should adapt to the situation at hand. As Fletcher stated, “The situationist avoids words like ‘never’ and ‘perfect’ and ‘always’ and ‘complete’ as he avoids the plague.”
-Thus, relativism supports the idea that laws are abstract, but real situations require a context-driven approach where love remains the ultimate guiding principle.
What does Fletcher say about personalism?
-While a legalist might ask, “What does the law say?” the situationist asks, “Who is to be helped?” This focus on people reflects the belief that real morality is rooted in personal relationships.
What does the Bible say about personalism?
This principle is illustrated in Mark where Jesus tells the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” highlighting that people’s needs take precedence over the strict observance of religious rules.
