The Six Fundamental Principles Flashcards
What is the Second Fundament Principle?
The ruling norm of Christian decision making is love: nothing else.
Fletcher believes that Jesus replaced the Jewish Torah (Halakha) (laws) with love
Mark 2: 23-28. Jesus ate grain on Sabbath. Said was good because it achieved most love.
Commandments are not absolute- love can overturn them when it is necessary
What is the first Fundamental Principle?
‘Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love; nothing else at all.’
Only love is good in and of itself. Actions aren’t intrinsically good or evil.
Actions are extrinsically good/evil depending on how much love they produce.
What is the third Fundamental Principle?
“Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else”
This means that justice is what you deserve and is the most love you can receive for what you have done.
“Justice is Christian love using its head.”
What is the fourth Fundamental Principle?
“Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not.”
Love isn’t about your feelings towards other people but rather a desire for good to come other people.
What is the fifth Fundamental Principle?
“Only the end justifies the means.”
It doesn’t matter what you do as long as the results achieve the most love.
The consequences need to be most loving, so actions can be a bit iffy.
Need to consider: desired end, means available, motive for acting and the foreseeable consequences.
What is the sixth Fundamental Principle?
Love decisions are made situationally: not prescriptively.
You should not create a moral law for a situation based on over as each situation is slightly different. You should love in each situation even if the situation are similar.
Jesus reacted against the rules of the Torah. There were Jewish groups who lived under the set laws. Everything depends on the individual situations.
