Assess Fletcher's four working principles - NML

Question 1

Section one: AO1

RELATIVISM & PERSONALISM

Answer 1

Fletcher’s working principles of relativism and personalism, means euthanasia is not always morally wrong and seems morally ethical as personalism posits how the person should be put at the heart of the

Question 2

Section one: AO2 FOR

RELATIVISM & PERSONALISM

Answer 2

Mill’s - ‘Over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign’ - People regarded as having the right to autonomy over their own lives.
People would know what the most loving action is for themselves and should be able to have the right to decide
(God free will)

Question 3

Section one: AO2 AGAINST

RELATIVISM & PERSONALISM

Answer 3

Consequentialist ethical approach means that it is impossible to know the outcomes – ironically love could not be best served as the persons death could cause more harm than good for those still living
takes away the intrinsic value of life and could resort to more people turning to suicide when placed in stressful situations at school/work
- so much that contributes to a person’s quality of life and not all of it can be medically measured. An issue as complex as euthanasia cannot be based simply on whether love is best served. Needs strict adherence to Sanctity of life and Gods law
- rather than individual judgement

Geisler: Whilst SE rightly establishes the person over things in moral decisions improperly est. the individual human autonomy ( and his situational decision of love) above the autonomy of God
Doesn’t recognise God’s law is eternally and supremely perfect whilst are decisions are flawed, and whilst may want what’s best. Decision may be flawed/ not distinctively Christian

Question 4

Section two: AO1

POSITIVISM AND RELATIVISM

Answer 4

Positivism – Belief in the reality and the importance of love
Relativism – Christian laws are relative to the circumstance

Question 5

Section two: AO2 FOR

POSITIVISM AND RELATIVISM

Answer 5

Mathew 22: “Love thy neighbour” – Sermon on the Mount

Mark 3:1 Jesus/Agape shown when Jesus healed a withered hand in the Jewish temple, despite it being Sabbath day and no one can work on the Sabbath
SE by positing love and placing the individual first shows is in line with Jesus teachings as like Jesus sometimes the law needs to be disregarded

Question 6

Section two: AO2 AGAINST

POSITIVISM AND RELATIVISM

Answer 6

Jesus never encouraged the violation of Gods law under any circumstances and taught his followers not to sin. Mathew 5:19
-Jesus was special and so diff circumstances to us

Barth/ Nieblur humans “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and born into sin. Always tempted to do evil “For I do not know why I do bad when I do good” so won’t be able to discern the good and Gods eternal law
-Need strict adherence to the Bible to make moral decisions and can’t just rely on reason as too flawed to interpret God’s law for ourselves. Not helpful