Apply Situation Ethics To The Issue Of Polyamourous Relationships (essay Plan) Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is situation ethics
Situation ethics is a Christian ethical system stemming from Fletcher in the 1960s
What is fletchers view on legalism
He believed that a legalistic view on ethics was not flexible enough for the modern world and could lead to immoral consequences
How can this be linked to the traditional Christian view on polyamorous relationships
Even though, like Fletcher, the bible never directly spoke on polyamory, it does clearly show its view on sexual acts outside of marriage and the belief of monogamy. This can be seen in the book of hebrews 13:14 ‘God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral’
What does fletcher believe about antinomianism?
Believed that antinomianism was too flexible and that it could lead to a series of spontaneous immoral acts
How does this link to polyamorous relationships
Polyamorous relationships, like any other kind of relationships, can still be subject to abuse and immoral behaviour
How did fletcher respond to those two views
Due to this, Fletcher proposed his middle way that was based on the principle of agape and unconditional love
What does DCT say on this
Within other Christian ethical theories such as the divine command theory, generally views sexual relationships as created by God for the purpose of reproduction
How does natural law respond
The legalistic approach of natural law which also forbids polyamorous relationships as it goes against the primary precept of reproduction
How would situation ethics disagree with these legalistic approaches
Situation ethics would disagree with this legalistic approach to ethical decision making as it undermines Fletchers four working principles (pragmatism, relativism, positivism and personalism)
Which principle links mainly with this idea
This links mainly with the idea of positivism, that the first place in decision making should be love, so if the people on the polyamorous relationship feel agape love towards one another they should be allowed together.
Who should the decision making put in first place
The decision making should put the person in first place, morality should be personal not legalistic so of it is the best thing for the people in the relationship then polyamory should be allowed.
What did Fletcher value
Fletcher valued the freedom of the individual to choose their own moral behaviour relative to what is most loving
How can you apply the boss principle
The boss principle of situation ethics aim is to make the most loving consequences based around the idea of agape love, which is defined as a selfless, unconditional love- the highest form of love. This principle would never say that polyamory would be always morally right or wrong, this would link to fundamental principle 6 (love decided situationally)
What does Fletcher say about absolutising the relative
Fletcher clearly stated that we must not fall into the trap of absolutising the relative. There cannot be a general statement of situation ethics agreeing or disagreeing with polyamorous relationships as it is, like all relationships, open to moral corruption when it is about lust instead of agape love or If the relationship is open to abuse. If love isn’t the main product and one of the people concerned are facing harm then the action is ultimately wrong
Fletchers 2nd fundamental principle
Fletchers 2nd fundamental principle, love is the ruling norm of Christianity, states that polyamorous relationships that produce agape love replaces the legalistic views of the bible and should be allowed with accordance to situation ethics
