Situation Ethics Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is SE
Moral theory developed by Joseph fletcher in the 1960s. It teaches that the most loving thing in a given situation should determine what is morally right. He disagreed w legalism, fixed rules and laws, because it certain scenarios like the axe murder scenario, it can cause individuals to not act morally. He disagreed w atinomianism, no laws governing human behaviour cuz it can lead to moral chaos.
Why did he formulate the theory
He was in support of many bioethical issues which were opposed by many Christian teachings. He argued in some cases, no life is better than some forms of life e.g. being an unwanted child or being a girl in a sex-selective society- supports female infanticide as the girls QoL will be extremely poor, she will be forced into child marriageable, vulnerable to violence and have a lack of autonomy and rights.
Why did fletcher believe that we should base ethical decisions on love
Cuz it is the only absolute moral principle that puts people first in any situation akin to Jesus
E.g. Parable of the Good Samaritan where Jesus demonstrated agape love by highlighting selflesss care for others regardless of social boundaries or perosnal costs
What are the 4 presuppositions
Pragmatism= moral decisions must work in practiced
Positivism= moral decisions should prioritise people over rules
Relativism= there r no absolute rules
Personalsim= moral decisons should prioritise people over rules
Why is love subjective bad and counter
The rule of love often gets criticised cuz it sounds a bit indeterminate and subjective.
Love is typically viewed as a subjective value. What 1 person finds loving may not be the same for the next. Therefore fletcher tries to determine what love is by giving it specific predicates e.g. love is used situationally,a justification of means
However, fletcher claims his method is grounded in real life contexts, emphasising facts over dogma (beleif and conviction)
Sexual ethics - can be used in Christianity
In the CC, there is lots and lots of guidance on sexual ethics e.g. no contraception, no abortion,no same sex relationships.
Lots of the info this is based on comes from the Old Testament rather than on the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus openly opposed some of the rules as set out in the OT. The only things concerning sexual ethics that Jesus condemns r adultery and divorce.
Therefore, fletcher claims that the loving decison must be made there and then, rather than be based on prescriptive rules.
Overall conc
Fletcher is far more concerned w the use of governing principles, like love, rather than the use of petty rules and discipline which do not teach genuine morality
