Situation Ethics

Question 1

8 marker : explore the contribution made by situation ethics to moral decision making

Answer 1

1. Agape as the only moral rule
   - inspired by teachings of jesus ‘ love thy neighbour’
   - most loving action is always the right one
   - love is unconditional, selfless and non- reciprocal
   Focus on people over rules makes it compassionate and human centered
2. Fletchers 4 working principles
   guide to how love is applied
   - pragmatism, action must work in practice
   - relativism, no fixed rules only agape
   - positivism, love is the highest moral value
   - personalism, people before rules
   helps ensure decisions are both loving and practical
3. Moral flexibility/Situationism
   -rejects strict rule following and total freedom
   - each situation judged individually
   - promotes moral flexibility,still works in a framework (agape)
   - Fletcher described it as a method not set rules.
   promotes flexibility, helps in complex dilemmas i.e saving a life

Question 2

8 marker : explore the key concepts of situation ethics

Answer 2

1. Agape as the only moral rule
   - inspired by teachings of jesus ‘ love thy neighbour’
   - most loving action is always the right one
   - love is unconditional, selfless and non- reciprocal
2. Fletchers 4 working principles
   - pragmatism, action must work in practice
   - relativism, no fixed rules only agape
   - positivism, love is the highest moral value
   - personalism, people before rules
3. Situationism
   - each situation judged individually
   - promotes moral flexibility,still works in a framework (agape)
   - Fletcher described it as a method not set rules.

Question 3

what are flecthers 4 working principles

Answer 3

1. pragmatism - action must work in practice
2. relativism - no fixed rules, only agape
3. positivism - love is the highest moral value
4. personalism - people before rules

Question 4

what is pragmatism

Answer 4

the action must work in practice

Question 5

what is relativism

Answer 5

there are no fixed rules, only agape

Question 6

what is positivism

Answer 6

love is the highest moral value

Question 7

what is personalism

Answer 7

people come before rules

Question 8

12 marker : assess the view that situation ethics fails to offer a helpful means of solving moral dilemmas

Answer 8

1. Subjectivity/ lack of clear guidance
   - decisions based on love vary between people
   - without rules difficult to know what to do
   -leads to moral uncertainty/ confusion
   But, focuses on individual needs rather than strict rules - deeply personal
2. Potential to justify immoral actions
   - allows rules to be broken, may justify lying or adultery if seen as the most loving thing
   - critics (Barclay) argue it is dangerous, people may abuse its flexibility
   But, offers a middle ground to strict rules and moral chaos.
3. Impractical in modern dilemmas
   - modern dilemmas often need clear guidance i.e medical ethics
   - love alone may not be enough, law and reason need to be involved
   But rooted in christian teachings, ‘ love thy neighbour’