Situation Ethics

Question 0

What is situation ethics?

Answer 0

A relativist, consequentialism theory inspired by Jesus’ gospel messages of love (agape)

Question 1

When did situation ethics emerge?

Answer 1

When Joseph Fletcher wrote situation ethics in 1966, during a period of great social change (sexual revolution, Vietnam war, MLK etc)

Question 2

Rudolph Bultmann

Answer 2

Said we should demythologise the bible- take out the miracles, stories etc and just look at the message, the most prominent being ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’

Question 3

So what is the basis of situation ethics?

Answer 3

That the answer to each situation should be judged by what is the most loving action. Fletcher defined love as agape- unconditional love

Question 4

What bible teaching did Fletcher base his definition of love on?

Answer 4

St Paul’s letter in the Corinthians- love is patient, love is kind..

Question 5

What is legalism?

Answer 5

Fixed rules and rigid morality

Question 6

What is antinomianism?

Answer 6

Living with no laws or moral constraints

Question 7

Is situation ethics legalistic or antinomianist?

Answer 7

It is the middle ground between the two- although it has one rule (love thy neighbour) it is generally flexible

Question 8

What are the four working principles of situation ethics?

Answer 8

1. Pragmatism
2. Relativism
3. Positivism
4. Personalism

Question 9

What is 1. Pragmatism?

Answer 9

The course of action chosen should be practical in real life.

Question 10

What is 2. Relativism?

Answer 10

Rejects absolutes such as never or always- all situations are individual and unique

Question 11

What is 3. Positivism?

Answer 11

All decisions should be based on Christian love

Question 12

What is 4. Personalism?

Answer 12

People come first, not rules or ideals

Question 13

What are the six fundamental principles?

Answer 13

1. Only love is intrinsically good
2. The ruling norm of Christian decision is love
3. Love and justice are the same
4. Love always wishes your neighbour good
5. Only the end justifies the means, nothing else
6. Loves decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively

Question 14

What are some unique situations where situation ethics can be applied?

Answer 14

The burning house with only time to save one person, the woman who kills her crying baby to save a party from massacre by Indians, mrs Bergmeier

Question 15

What are some criticisms of fletcher’s unique situations?

Answer 15

People do not often have to face such life and death situations

Question 16

How did pope pius XII condemn situation ethics?

Answer 16

‘it is an individual and subjective appeal to the concrete circumstances of actions to justify decisions in opposition to the natural law or gods revealed will’

Question 17

What are four criticisms of situation ethics

Answer 17

1. It is dated, as it is rooted in 60s culture
2. Can love ever be unselfish?
3. Slippery slope argument- if something is right one time, what’s to say it isn’t right all the time?
4. Love is subjective- rapists, incest etc.

Question 18

What is proportionalism?

Answer 18

An attempt by Bernard Hoose to modify situation ethics by combining it with elements of natural moral law.
‘it is never right to go against a principle unless there is a proportionate reason to justify it’
Eg. Abortion is wrong, but justified if she is pregnant by rape