Ethics- Situaion Ethics

Question 1

what theory did robinson develop

Answer 1

‘man come of age’

Question 2

man come of age

Answer 2

-view that man is mature and developed enough to make ethical decisions for himself, take responsibility

Question 3

what did robinson think of legalistic approach

Answer 3

-legalistic approach of divine command ethics no longer necessary, misconception of ethics Jesus taught

Question 4

what did robinson argue we need to follow instead of strict moral laws

Answer 4

-individuals should act in a way which best demonstrate love to others, the love Jesus meant ‘love thy neighbour’
-this is agape love

Question 5

agapeistic love

Answer 5

-show to everyone whether you like them or not
-right attitude
-expect nothing in return
-different from other kinds of love

Question 6

why is this ethicsl theory teleological?

Answer 6

-concerned eith outcome of action
-good action vary situation, relativist

Question 7

Lewis four loves

Answer 7

-storge- affection
-philia- friendship
-eros- sexual
-agape- charity

Question 8

examples where Jesus rejects legalistic deontological approach to ethics

Answer 8

-‘sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath’
-Jesus heals leperosy instead of following religious teaching they’re unclean sinners
-saved woman from being stoned ‘whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone’

Question 9

Robinson divorce

Answer 9

-rejected traditional Christian teaching that divorce immoral in eyes of God as supernatural bond
-if agape better shown through divorce, other beliefs should be set aside

Question 10

Fletcher situationalism

Answer 10

-not antinomianism because people have moral constraints
-not legalism as maxims can be abandoned if agape love better shown another way
-middle group between two moral extremes, antinomianism and legalism

Question 11

Antinomianism

Answer 11

-moral extreme
-view no moral laws or rules
-people should act spontaneously in each situation, decide what is right

Question 12

Legalism

Answer 12

-view morality should be based on laws that much always be followed
-absolutist

Question 13

Fletcher four presuppositions

Answer 13

Pragmatism
Relativism
Positivism
Personalism

Question 14

Pragmatism

Answer 14

-more demands should be practical, achieve intend outcome love

Question 15

Relativism

Answer 15

-situations should be assess how best demonstrate love, not absolutist

Question 16

Positivism

Answer 16

-moral values based on faith rather than reason
-moral agent has to decide through faith in God that love most important thing

Question 17

Personalism

Answer 17

-demands needs and importance people considered first, not demands moral laws

Question 18

Positivism

Answer 18

-moral values not proven by logic or reason by based on faith
-moral agent has to decide through their faith in God that love is the most important thing of all

Question 19

Personalism

Answer 19

-demands that the needs and importance of people considered first, not demands of moral laws

Question 20

what do the 6 fundamental principles exaplain

Answer 20

-how agape should be understood and applied in ethical situations

Question 21

6 fundamental principles (IDJNES)

Answer 21

-Only love is intrinsically good
-Ruling norm Christian descision is love
-Justice is love distributed
-Love wills the neighbours good whether we like him or not
-The end justifies the means
-Loves acted out situationally not prescriptively

Question 22

Fletcher extreme situations

Answer 22

-woman kills crying baby to protect group people being attacked
-woman committed adultery russian camp guard so she would become pregnant and able return to family
-doctor allow abortion for patient in mental hospital who been raped

Question 23

(Weakness- Christian responses)
Who banned situation ethics being taught in places of catholic teaching? what year?

Answer 23

-Sacred Congregation of holy office in 1956

Question 24

(Weakness- Christian responses)
Why did the holy segregation ban situation ethics being taught

Answer 24

-argued that although conscience could be used interpret what God wanted mankind, situation treat conscience as source of moral knowledge rather than natural moral law which provides absolute laws from God to follow

Question 25

Vardy criticisms

Answer 25

-provides lack of clear guidance, almost any action could be allowed, people could claim they acted situationally when their intentions may have been bad

Question 26

Vardy criticism quote

Answer 26

-open to abuse as it is ‘used to justify doing what people feel inclined to do, rather than what may be right’

Question 27

Difficulty with situation ethics

Answer 27

-as most consequentialist ethics, hard to predict consequence of one’s actions -even if try demonstrate agape, may not be result, unpredictable

Question 28

Barclay criticisms

Answer 28

-ethics meant to make life easy, give us rules and laws which we accept and apply, saves us from difficult task managing own judgements -situation ethics does not do this, ‘man come of age’ gives a ‘terrifying degree of freedom’ -we are not ready for this freedom as we are not perfect, make mistakes, need rules guide us

Question 29

Barclay critisicm Fletchers extreme situations

Answer 29

-unusual, extreme situations, unlikely someone will encounter moral situation this severity, so should not be used to justify everyday morality

Question 30

Strengths (DRFJC)

Answer 30

-most agree agape desirable attitude to have towards others -gives ‘man come of age’ responsibility -provides flexibility -consistent with jesus teaching and rejection of legalism, suitable christian’s -responded to social and moral change at time, provide realistic christian alternative to rejected christian legalistic ethic