Situation Ethics Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is situation ethics a middle-ground for?
The two extremes: antinominalism (no rules) and legalism (rigid adherence to rules).
What are some key quotes from Fletcher?
“Love is the only universal.”
“Love’s decisions are made situationally.”
What is SE grounded on?
The teachings of Jesus, who prioritised and advocated for agapeic love (unconditional, selfless love for others)
When was this theory developed?
1960s
Which of Jesus’ key teachings are relevant?
The Golden Rule: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
The Healing on the Sabbath: putting the rules of the day aside to do the most loving thing - must always prioritise love.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Sacrificial Death on the Cross: exemplifying true apapeic, selfless love so that humans can be forgiven from their sins.
What is agape?
Unconditional love
Name all 4 presuppositions:
PRAGMATISM (pracitcal, always seek the most practical solution), POSITIVISM (love is supreme), PERSONALISM (put people above laws e.g. Jesus healing on the Sabbath), RELATIVISM (the right thing to do is relative to the situation).
Name 2 of the 6 principles/ propositions:
1) “Love is the only intrinsic good”
5) “Only the end justifies the means” (the end goal - love - justifies the means to getting there).
6) “Loves decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively” (Jesus was prepared to break the laws in order to do the right thing e.g. forgiving the adulterous woman, and the healing on the Sabbath).
What is the role of the Conscience?
The “conscience is a verb rather than a noun” meaning that it is a label we give to our thought process and our moral decision making. It is something we DO rather than something we HAVE.
What is the agapeic calculus and how is it a strength of his argument?
How you calculate what will maximise love/ agape in each situation. It is a strength as it is an idea taken from Util: Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus is very similar to this.
What did William Temple (former Archbishop of Canterbury)say about situation ethics?
“It is axiomatic that love should be the predominant impulse.”
What did Jesus’ Golden rule say?
“Love your neighbour as yourself”.
What did William Barclay say as a critic of SE?
SE is not a good approach, as it is insufficient and gives people “a terrifying degree of freedom” and “Situation Ethichs would only work if all men were saints”. He said that “it provides no laws for everyday life”. E.g. driving: we need rules of the road to keep everyone safe.
Would Kant disagree or agree with SE and why?
He would disagree with the propositions/ principe “only the end justifies the means” as it is violating the categorical imperatives.
Name 3 weaknesses of SE:
- Critics say that SE is not a successful ‘middle ground’ and actually descends into antinominalism very quickly.
- Jesus’ teaching of agapeic love was not the only thing he taught - e.g. he also wanted people to follow the 10 commandments which require words like ‘NEVER’ and ’ALWAYS’ which are fixed and absolute. (E.g. “do not kill.”)
- William Barcley’s response: “situation ethics would only work if all men were saints.”
- It is open to exploitation - you can justify any action.
- It depends on a belief in God. god only has authority about his teachings of love if you believe Jesus is the Son of God.
Name 3 strengths of SE:
+ Pragmatism is a strength as it provides flexibility and gives individual autonomy.
+ Gives the individual autonomy - empowers people to make moral decisions for themselves (therefore meaning that they can be held accountable for their actions).
+ Provides flexibility, the only absolute in SE is ‘love’. Meainign that SE remains relevant and applicable to a C.20st society (avoids becoming outdated).
+ It is consistent with Jesus’ teaching on agape - therefore appealing for many Christians asa they believe Jesus is the Son of God (emphasising the importance and authority of his teachings).
