The Six Fundamental Principles Flashcards
Define extrinsic
Not part of essential nature, coming out or operating from outside the object.
What is the first Fundamental Principle?
“Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all”
Only love good in & of itself. Actions not intrinsically good or evil. Good/evil depending on how much love they produce.
Extrinsically good depending on circumstances & consequences.
What is the second Fundamental Principle?
The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else.
Fletcher believes Jesus replaced Jewish Torah (laws (Halakha)) with love.
Mark 2: 23-28 Jesus ate seeds on the Sabbath which was illegal, told Pharisees it was because it achieved most love.
Commandments not absolute; love is ruling norm & not equalled by any other law
What is the third Fundamental Principle?
“Love and justice are the same,nor justice is love distributed, nothing else.”
Love and justice cannot be separated
Justice is what you deserve & is most love you can receive for what you have done.
What is the fourth fundamental principle?
“Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not”
Love isn’t matter of feeling but towards another person
Not sentimental/erotic but desire for good for other person to be done
New Testament-Agape love
Neighbour is anybody, agape is unconditional; nothing required in return
What is the fifth Fundamental Principle?
“Only the end justified the means, nothing else” - you can do bad things if the end result is most loving thing to do
Should consider every action in result of its consequences
The consequences of every moral action should be most loving
End must be most loving result
When calculating, must consider 1)desired end 2) means available 3) motive for acting 4) foreseeable consequences
What is the sixth Fundamental Principle?
Loves decisions made situationally; not prescriptively
Should not create moral law for situation based on love
Should use love in each situation even if situations are similar
Whether something is wrong or right depends entirely on individual situation
If action brings about most love, it is right
