fletcher on conscience

• what are the 4 ways that he describes the conscience as and explain each

  1. instrument of love - it serves as a moral compass towards actions that promote the well being of others

  
  

  2. dynamic and situational - the conscience adapts to the unique context of each situation, so what is right in a situation can differ from the next

  
  

  3. conscience as a guide not a rule - serves as a guide helping individuals make judgements about the most loving action. this aligns with the idea that love is intrinsically good

  
  

  4. critical reflection and responsibility - the conscience is a product of one's own moral personal judgement and reflection, fletcher expects us to reflect on moral reasoning
• what is fletcher's overall belief of the conscience in situation ethics

  it prioritises love and flexibility, it encourages individuals to follow their conscience and allow agape to guide them when making moral actions
• what did barclay say in opposition to situation ethics

  he argues that fletcher is too extreme and puts too much emphasis on being free from the rules and claims that freedom is an illusion and the law helps to make a distinction between public and private mortality
• what did tillich argue in opposition to fletcher

  allowing people to make individual choices will lead to chaos so moral absolutes are needed and the definition of agape is too subjective
• what is a strength of situation ethics

  it avoids logical, detached and impersonal ways of thinking and is sensitive to different circumstances
• what is another strength of situation ethics

  the example of jesus highlights the importance of needing to disobey rules to prioritise love
• Conscience is a verb rather than a noun. It is something you do when you make decisions, as Fletcher puts it, ‘creatively.