situation ethics Flashcards
(10 cards)
paul tillich
- ‘the law of love is the negation [cancelling out] of the law; it is absolute because it concerns everything concrete.’
- saying love overrides other laws
- e.g. theft –> usually not good bc not loving, but stealing a gun from someone about to shoot themselves would be a loving action
bishop john robinson
‘there is no one ethical system that can claim to be christian’
rudolf bultmann
jesus had no ethics apart from “love thy neighbour as thyself”, which is the ultimate duty.
joseph fletcher cab story
- st. louis. cab driver said “I and my father and grandfather before me, and their fathers, have always been straight-ticket Republicans.” friend said, “I assume that means you will vote for Senator So-and-So.” “No,” said the driver, “there are times when a man has to push his principles aside and do the right thing.” [vote Dem]
fletcher on words a situationist avoids
“The situationist avoids words like ‘never’ and ‘perfect’ and ‘always’ and ‘complete’ as he avoids the plague, as he avoids ‘absolutely’.”
fletcher on love’s decisions
“love’s decisions are made situationally not prescriptively.”
4 presumptions of situation ethics
- pragmatism - evaluating action based on success of application. action must work towards love
- relativism - SE is relativistic
- positivism
- personalism
William temple
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” How we do this is another question, but this is the whole of moral duty.” (William Temple).
SE being designed for modern society: What did Robinson argue?
that humanity has ‘come of age.’ (i.e. matured, become more educated and self controlling).
William Barclay
Disagreed that humanity has matured - so ‘still needs the crutch and protection of law.’ says that SE gives moral agents a dangerous amount of freedom. If there is no or not enough love then ‘freedom can become selfishness or even cruelty.’
