2.1 ETHICAL RELATIVISM

Question 1

Also known as moral relativism, this ethical doctrine claims that there are no universal or absolute moral principles

Answer 1

ethical relativism

Question 2

Standards of right and wrong are always relative to a particular culture or society. The moral opinion of one individual is as good as any other because there is no objective basis for saying that a particular action is right or wrong apart from a specific social group.

Answer 2

ethical relativism

Question 3

Every culture has its own norm of moral actions. Some societies that consider several kinds of actions or practices as right may be considered wrong by other societies

Answer 3

Strengths of ethical relativism

Question 4

Ethical relativism contradicts common beliefs and ordinary experiences in several ways.

Answer 4

Criticisms and objections

Question 5

Healthcare professionals usually face issues that arise when scientific medical procedures clash with the religious aspect of ethical relativism.

Answer 5

In the medical context

Question 6

it is advocated by Joseph Fletcher, an American Protestant medical doctor and the author of Situation Ethics: The New Morality (1966).

Answer 6

Situation ethics

Question 7

it is the Fletcher’s preferred approach to the problem of morality. This ethical theory states that the moral norm depends upon a given situation, but whatever this situation may be, one must always act in the name of Christian love.

Answer 7

situationism

Question 8

For Fletcher, the following six propositions are the fundamentals of Christian conscience

Answer 8

six proposition

Question 9

Love alone is good per se, the only thing, by its very nature, that is good. Thus, one who acts, decides, and judges by agapeic love

Answer 9

Proposition I: Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely, love, nothing else

Question 10

Christians, to deserve their calling, should base their moral judgments on agapeic love.

Answer 10

Proposition II: The ultimate norm of Christian decisions is love, nothing else.

Question 11

Love and justice go together.

Answer 11

Proposition III: Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed

Question 13

One may like or dislike a person because of the qualities and traits that he/she possesses.

Answer 13

Proposition IV: Love wills the neighbor’s good whether we like him/her or not.

Question 14

Christian ethics teaches that “the end does not justify the means.” No matter how good or beneficial the end may be, one may not employ evil means to attain it.

Answer 14

Proposition V: Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.

Question 15

This sums up what situational Christian ethics is all about.

Answer 15

Proposition VI: Decisions ought to be made situationally, not prescriptively.