Situation ethics

• What are the three approaches to laws/ethical theory (situation ethics)

  Legalism - fixed moral rules which are universal and must be followed.

  Antinomianism - The denial of the possibility of any rules. 

  Situationism - The rule of love, which is applied situationally. 
• What are the four presumptions (+ what do they mean)?


  Pragmatism - Seek practical solution, rather than trying to find something abstract.

  Positivism - The commitment to a God of love and to love as the main requirement of the ethical life. 

  Personalism - People above rules - We place people, not rules/principles, at the centre of all of our moral considerations. 

  Relativism - The belief that the moral act should always be relative to the needs of the performer and the situation (in this case based on love).
• What did Newman believe conscience was? 


  The voice of God
• What did Aristotle and Aquinas believe conscience was? 


  Practical reasoning
• What was Fletchers view of conscience? 


  "Function not a faculty". Conscience is to be understood as a verb, our actions are performed in isolations, not as a collective.
• What are some criticisms of situation ethics?

  -Fletcher is vague in defining what the good (love) for people actually is.  PROBLEM!! - Love is subjective

  -Teleological - cannot guarantee outcome - no clear time or method to make moral decisions.

  -Is it true that no actions are intrinsically wrong, regardless of circumstance? (throwing babies on bonfires example). 

  -Fletcher focuses on the outcome and the action to the extent to which he ignores why someone does the action. Did they have moral intentions? (theft and saving life example).
• What is Hobbes criticism of situation ethics? 


  There is too much placed on the individual when making decisions (more authority than Bible or Church). - Link CMP problems

  Humans are naturally selfish - we cannot expect them to follow the most loving outcome. HOBBES - "Government is necessary not because man is naturally bad, but because MAN IS BY NATURE MORE INDIVIDUALISTIC THAN SOCIAL".
• What would William Barcley say about situation ethics (crit)?


  Church tradition beneficial, to discard moral rules is to discard this experience.

  'Not all men are angels' and so they shouldn't be trusted to come to their own moral conclusions.
• What does A.T. Robinson say in support of Situation ethics? 


  Love more important than blindly following laws, Individuals should act to show what will best demonstrate love to others.
• What would St. Augustine say about situation ethics? 


  A good christian should and must goes against a civil law if it does something contrary to good conscience.

  "Love God and do what you will".

  ANALYSIS - the fall

  However, The Fall suggests humans cannot be trusted, therefore we cannot follow a situational ethical theory, we must follow a deontological/fixed law ethical theory (set by God). - After the fall humans=corrupted
• What are the six fundamental principles? 


  J - justice is love distributed

  E - ends justify the means

  N - neighbours good will is willed by love

  N - Love is the NORM

  I - Love is intrinsically good

  S - Love is SITUATIONAL
• What is the point of the six fundamental principles? 


  Reasons why we should use love for moral decision making
• What is the Mrs Burgmeier example? 


  Fletchers book 'Situation Ethics' - character proves point that love is the ultimate principle, - praise her for committing adultery in order to be reunited with her family. 

  Immoral act = most loving outcome - justifiable
• What are the advantages of situation ethics?


  -Guideline, but flexible - It uses rules that give people a guideline on how to live moral lives but it also allows them to break these rules if need to be. This means it is flexible and understands the complexity of human life. 

  -It follows the Christian system ,which means that its consistent with Jesus’ teachings.

  -It emphasises LOVE 

  -It avoids conflict of duty which can be experienced with absolutist theories. When moral rules conflict, situation ethics gives a way of resolving problems i.e love.