Situation ethics

Question 1

What is the main principle of situation ethics?

Answer 1

Do the most living thing - agape love should be at the centre of ethics

Question 2

Who is the main scholar for situation ethics?

Answer 2

Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s

Question 3

Is situation ethics teleological or deontological?

Answer 3

Teleological - the moral goodness is determined by the end/ result

Question 4

What 3 types does Fletcher divide moral thinking into?

Answer 4

1. Legalistic
2. Antinomian
3. Situational

Question 5

What is meant by ‘legalisitc’?

Answer 5

Based on fixed laws

Question 6

What is meant by ‘antinomian’?

Answer 6

Having no laws at all

Question 7

What is meant by ‘situational’?

Answer 7

Looking at the context of the moral problem and adopting the law of doing the most loving thing in that situation
Fletcher believed this approach provided the best middle path between legalism and antinomianism

Question 8

What does agape love mean?

Answer 8

Unconditional love that demands that people love their neighbours and also their enemies.
It’s understood as christian love and is self-sacrificing, not self-interested. It shows no discrimination or favouritism.

Question 9

How many propositions did Fletcher have?

Answer 9

6

Question 10

What are Fletcher’s 6 propositions that we are meant to consider when making a moral decision?

Answer 10

1. The only thing that is intrinsically good is agape love
2. Love is the ruling norm of Christian ethics
3. Justice is love distributed (act with love in a rational manner for the benefit of the community
4. Love does not depend on emotional likes and dislikes but is an act of will, a deliberately chosen attitude
5. Only the end justifies the mean
6. Love should be considered in the context of each situation as it arises - ‘situationally not prescriptively’

Question 11

What are the working 4 principles for?

Answer 11

To help determine the right thing to do

Question 12

What are the 4 working principles?

Answer 12

Pragmatism, relativism, personalism and conscience

Question 13

What does the working principle ‘pragmatism’ mean?

Answer 13

This is about practicality in the real world. Rather than following the abstract principles of a philosophy, the pragmatist looks for something which will work in the practical circumstances and everyday life

Question 14

What does the working principle ‘relativism’ mean?

Answer 14

Rules are not to be seen as fixed and absolute but can be changed according to the situation.

Question 15

What does the working principle ‘personalism’ mean?

Answer 15

People matter more than laws. The needs of people should be considered when moral actions are taken - they should be at the centre of the theory.

Question 16

What does the working principle ‘positivism’ mean?

Answer 16

It must put faith and love before reasoning or logical proof.

Question 17

Name 2 strengths of situation ethics

Answer 17

1. It is flexible and practical. It takes into account the complexities of human life, and different situations, and allows people to decide what the most loving thing to do is
2. Doing the most loving thing means there theoretically should always be a good intention and outcome, because love can only be good

Question 18

Name 2 weaknesses of situation ethics

Answer 18

1. It is subjective, because decisions must be made from within the situation as it’s perceived to be. It isn’t easy to be certain that one’s perception of the situation is correct. What the most loving thing to do can also be subjective and different between people. ‘Do the most loving thing’ can be too ambiguous and broad.
2. It makes the idea of rules and laws seem not as important, when in reality, we need laws for our protection and safety in society. Situation ethic’s take on laws can be misleading.

Question 19

Give an example of an introduction to a situation ethics essay

Answer 19

Situation ethics is a teleological ethical approach developed by Joseph Fletcher, which states that in order to be moral, you must do the most loving thing in every situation. The main principle of situation ethics is agape love, which means unconditional love towards everyone, that shows no discrimination or favouritism. Situation ethics is the bridge between legalism (based on fixed laws) and antinomianism (having no laws at all). Situation ethics supports that we can break rules as long as it is the most loving thing to do. It stresses the importance of looking at the particular situation, and deciding what is right depending on that.

Question 20

What does Joseph Fletcher think about ‘conscience’?

Answer 20

He uses it as a verb, rather than a noun. All Fletcher means by ‘conscience’ is that we should act ‘conscientiously’.