The Six Fundemental Principles Flashcards
What are the six fundamental postpositions?
-They show how love is to be shown in every situation :
1)love only is good
2)love is the only norm (rule)
3)love and justice are the same
4)love is not liking
5) love justifies the means
6)love decides there and then
What does Fletcher mean by love only is good?
-Fletcher’s first fundamental principle asserts that love is intrinsically valuable and the only thing that is always good. Love has inherent worth, and its goodness comes from its ability to help or hurt people.
-Unlike actions that are inherently right or wrong, such as lying, their moral value depends on the context.
-A lie, for example, is not intrinsically wrong; it can be right if its purpose is loving and beneficial to others. For the situationist, the value of an action is determined by its loving intent, not by an abstract rule like “Thou shalt not lie
What is meant by love is not liking?
-Fletcher’s fourth principle states that love is not about personal preference or liking; it is an unconditional and selfless love that seeks the best for others regardless of feelings.
-Martin Luther King Jr. described agape love as “a creative, redemptive goodwill to all men.” This means that love involves acting in the best interest of others, even when one does not like them or has personal biases.
-Christian love is a non-selfish love that aims for the good of all people, transcending personal emotion
What is meant by love justifies the means?
-According to Fletcher’s fifth principle, the end or outcome of an action can justify the means if it results in greater good.
-When asked if the end justifies the means, Fletcher responded, “Then what on earth does?” This principle means that strict adherence to rules or laws is not enough if it leads to harm; the outcome must be considered.
-An action that brings about good, even if it involves breaking a rule, can be seen as morally right. For example, lying may be justified if it protects someone from harm
