situation ethics Flashcards
(9 cards)
situation ethics
by fletcher - choose most loving action based on principle of agape
fletchers teachings on agape
agape =only absolute unconditional love
based on Jesus’ teachings “love thy neighbour”
the six propositions
(1) love = only intrinsic good;
(2) love is ruling norm in
moral decision-making and replaces all laws;
(3) love and justice are the same thing – justice is love which is
distributed;
(4) love wills the neighbour’s good
regardless of whether the neighbour is liked or not;
(5)love is the goal of the act and justifies any means to
achieve that goal
(6) love decides on each situation as
it arises without a set of laws to guide it
- significant - flexibility- apply universally
four working principles
(1) pragmatism – decisions based on experience rather than theory;
(2) relativism – decisions based on making the absolute
laws of Christian ethics relative;
(3) positivism –decisions begin with belief in the reality and importance of love;
(4) personalism – decisions recognise that persons, not laws or anything else, are at the centre of this approach
conscience
guides situations
something we simply follow like a rule book - more optimistic
augustine -flawed due to og we cannot know what the most loving thing is
- personhood
Lewis- The Four Loves, William Collins, Chapter 6
agape highest form of love
Messer- Christian Ethics, London: ,Chapter 1
nigel messer- doesn’t fully agree-se reject absolute moral rights - too autonomous - scripture bible - should include some
concerned it can lead to moral relativism (no fixed rules-depends of situation)
-fletcher argue back agape based - love thy neighbour commandment’s still follows values
situation ethics subjective and autonomous?
yes-
synoptic links -
utility- Bentham argue for - similar to greatest good for greatest number
Augustine- against -original sin flawed human nature
