Situation Ethics Flashcards
(12 cards)
CORE
Developed by Joseph Fletcher
Teleological, relativist
Morally right action is the one that produces the most loving (agape) in situations
‘Love is the only universal’ - Fletcher
Draws on 1 John 4:8 - ‘God is love’
Four Working Principles
Pragmatism- Must work in real life
Relativism - Rejects fixed rules
Positivism - Faith in agape is chosen, not reasoned
Personalism - People matter more than laws
AO2 - empower individual judgement but critics like Barclay say they give ‘too much freedom’ risking subjective or self-serving decisions
Six Fundamental Principles
1) Only love is intrinsically good
2) Love is the ruling norm
3) Love and justice are the same
4) Love wills the neighbours good
5) Only the end justifies the means
6) Love’s decisions are made situationally
AO2 - Allows flexibility, but lacks clear moral boundaries - what if someone’s perception is warped ?
AGAPE
Selfless and unconditional love. Moral compass. Differs from Eros and philia.
‘Agape is good will at work in partnership with reason.’ - Fletcher
AO2 - Agape is too vague - how do we measure ‘the most loving’ outcome objectively?
MRS BERGMEIER (sacrificial adultery)
Fletcher approved of her adultery in prison camp to be send home, most loving action.
AO2 - Compassionate and human centred.
BARCLAY - ‘if we insist that in every situation a person must work out from scratch what is the right thing to do, then life becomes very difficult.’
COMPARED TO LEGALISM AND ANTINOMIANISM
Legalism - Rule based ethics. Fletcher rejected as too rigid.
Antinomianism - No rules at all. Fletcher rejected as too morally chaotic.
AO2 - Situationism offers realistic alternative
But too much moral autonomy and can justify immoral acts
MAIN STRENGTHS
Flexible
People focused
Rooted in Christianity
Relevant to modern issues
‘Love is the only norm’
Paul Tillich - ‘the law of love is the ultimate law’
Bultmann - Jesus had no other ethics other than ‘love thy neighbour’
MAIN WEAKNESSES
Too subjective
Could justify immoral acts
No moral boundaries
Rejects moral absolutes
Barclay - ‘Love needs to be under law, because love as an emotion can be misguided’
CA - Fletcher would respond that reason and agape together will prevent misuse - love isn’t sentiment but good will
HOW DOES IT RELATE TO CHRISTIANITY
‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’ - Mark
‘Love thy neighbour as yourself’ - Mark
BUT catholic thinkers like Aquinas would oppose it - morality is grounded in Natural Law, not individual judgement.
Some see it as a modernised reinterpretation of Jesus’ ethic, others see it as a betrayal of objective Christian morals.
EUTHANASIA
Fletcher supports voluntary euthanasia if it is the most loving action in the situation.
Love justifies breaking the commandment of ‘Do not Kill’, if it ends suffering.
Respects individual autonomy and compassion.
BUT
Could undermine the sanctity of life - POPE PIUS XII: ‘Euthanasia is a crime against life.’
