Situation ethics

• Agape love


  God's unconditional love, that all Christians should strive for
• Teleological 


  Focuses on the consequences of an action
• The context of Situation ethics

  After 2 World wars, concept of morality was changing. There was significantly less emphasis on religion. Fletcher and Robinson acknowledged these changes and came up with a ethical solution
• Basic principle of Situation ethics 


  Act in a way which brings about the most loving thing
• The 6 fundermental principles

  1. Love only is always good
  2. Love is the only norm
  3. Love and justice are the same, and Love is justice distributed
  4. Love wills the neighbours good
  5. Love is the only means
  6. Love decides there and then
• 4 working principles

  1. Personalism
  2. Pragmatism
  3. Positivism
  4. Relativism
• How Jesus' example applies

  Luke 7:36-43 - Jesus broke rules by associating with tax collectors and sinners

  Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus healed a man on the sabbath

  John 8:1-11 - Jesus prevents the death of a woman caught in adultery "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"
• Fletchers example of the most loving thing

  Spy - a WW2 spy has an option to lie and seduce an enemy in order to save millions of lives

  POW - a woman in a prisoner of war camp has to commit adultery in order to be released and reunited

  Terminally ill man - a man can refuse medication that could preserve his life in order to die within the time frame left on his medical insurance
• Strengths of Situation ethics

  Provides a clear alternative to Christian ethics that is consistent with the representation of Jesus in the Bible

  Flexible and practical

  Easy to understand

  You don't need to follow a conventional rule

  It is based on love

  Suitable for the modern world

  The 4 working principles are built in strengths
• Weaknesses of Situation ethics

  Roman catholics don't like it. Banned from being spoke about in RC Seminaries

  Subjective and individualistic - what may be loving to you isn't to someone else

  Could allow for murder and rape as it could be argued they are the most loving thing in this situation

  'Glass ball' argument - can't see into the future

  Unnatural as people like following rules
• Situation ethics and abortion

  Abortion may be the most loving thing in a situation - eg, if the baby is a result of rape or if the baby will be born with severe disabilities

  In other cases however, there might be other more loving options, such as adoption
• Situation ethics and embryo research

  In some cases embryo research can be used to preserve human life (personalism) by eradicating diseases

  It could be argued because embryos can't feel pain

  "Love is the only means" - if there is loving intention this is acceptable

  "Love is the only norm" - doctors may may use this to gain fame and fortune

  Personalism - uphold human life

  Pragmatism - if it has a low chance of success, the embryo should be left alone
• Situation ethics and euthanasia

  Case-by-case, no moral absolutes.

  If it limits human suffering in the case of terminal illness/disability

  Allows people to die with dignity and on their own terms

  In some cases, it may go against the wish of the patient e.g. if in a coma

  Widespread unloving effects on family
• Situation ethics and designer babies

  Babies can be designed to minimise suffering e.g. saviour sibling

  If the parents really desire a specific gender or appearance it could be considered loving to help them achieve this

  "Love and justice are the same" - it is unfair to allow those who can afford it get it and not allow everyone else to have access to it

  The suffering of the saviour sibling must be considered

  Motivation of parents might need to be questioned - are they showing agape love?
• Situation ethics and capital punishment

  Capital punishment could be carried out for the protection of society

  The criminal may be able to turn their life around

  Can be costly, and this money could be used for more loving circumstances

  Jesus did prevent a woman from being killed for adultery
• Situation ethics and cloning

  Could be used to preserve human life

  Personalism - puts people first

  "Love is the only means" - as long as there is loving outcomes

  Could lead to unloving outcomes if clones would be allowed to live

  Personalism - is it fair on the clones?

  Pragmatism - does it have a reasonable chance of success?
• Situation ethics and animals

  No moral absolutes - the rule of love can apply to animals too

  Personalism, however, suggestion to put humans first

  Some actions clearly unloving, e.g. blood Sports and intensive farming

  It is unclear wether or not animals are included within the rule of love. Should "love" apply to animals? Situation Ethics is based around Jesus' example in the Bible - he ate meat at passover and fed the 5,000 with fish and bread
• How to apply the 4 working principles

  Personalism - an action must put humans first

  Pragmatism - the proposed consequence must be realistic

  Positivism - love only is always good. Love is the only positive criteria that can apply to a situation

  Relativism - love is the only relevant criteria in any situation
• Love only is always good - it is the criteria that should be considered in any situation
• Love is the only norm - social rules can be broken to allow for the most loving thing
• Love and justice are the same, and love is justice distributed - love is completely fair in practice
• Love wills the neighbor's good - love is unconditional, regardless of the relationship
• Love is the only means - the action being undertaken is justified by loving consequences
• Love decides there and then - there can be no moral absolutes, as the most loving thing is only obvious in a specific situation
• Situation ethics and theft

  Case by case, teleological nature - e.g. in the case of a starving man who's stealing it would be morally acceptable as he's stealing to save his life

  Personalism - human needs always take priority over laws

  "Love is the only norm" - Social rules can be broken to allow for the most loving thing