RE- situation ethics

• Situation ethics- Fletcher

  Anglican theologian. His book 1966- situation ethics : the new morality.
• situation ethics- outdated

  Developed 1960s, some christians disagreed with traditional christian teachings. Though = outdated, needed modernizing. Fletcher= radical christian. Believed in ethical teachings of jesus but eventually became an athiest.
• situation ethics - relativism

  SE came from a christian moral background, dominated by NL teachings. SE says moral actions are relative. Right or wrong = relative to the situation.

  e.g lying may be 'right' in most situations but may be 'wrong' in others.

  Right/wrong depends on the situation. Each situation = different, the right action may be different.
• situation ethics- consequentalism

  consequence of an action that determines whether an action is right or wrong. End result= important. Actions= not right/wrong in themselves, but the outcome that decides whether they're right/wrong.

  If lying = good consequence then lying= right.

  Teleological theory= end purpose/goal.
• situation ethics- antinomianism

  F believes 3 ways to making moral decisions. Rejects first 2 but accepts the 3rd.

  1st way= antinomianism= should be no rules. Doesnt really use an ethical system. Enters decision making as if each occasion is unique.

  F rejects antinomanism= it has no principles, will lead to moral chaos.. Believes theres no such thing as conscience. Says you dont need an inner guide = all actions should be guided by love.
• situation ethics- legalism

  ethics- following set of moral rules. Fletcher rejects thus = gives people no choice over their actions. Puts principles before people. Too simplistic.
• Situation ethics- middle way

  Called 3rd way or middle way. Situationist has rules + principles but is prepared to ignore these rules. As it may be the most loving thing to do in that situation.
• situation ethics- agape

  For F, the basic moral principles is love. Christian word for love is agape. Its self-giving love
• situation ethics- cornothians

  Supported his choice of agape- using evidence from the bible. Most famous description of agape comes from st.paul in his letter to the cornithian church.
• situation ethics- torah

  torah= jewish word for laws of god that must be kept. jesus- sabbath
• situation ethics- samaritan

  F used teaching of jesus to support agape. E.g good samartian
• situation ethics- boss

  Only law that should guide our moral decision making is agape. Boss principle= do the most loving thing in each situation. as long as the action is the most loving thing to do, its the right thing to do.
• situation ethics- unconditional

  agape= unconditional giving to the other person. You dont give love, to get something back, you give in the best interest of the other person.
• situation ethics- relativism= 4 working principles

  Definition- all acts must be relative to a loving outcome. There are no fixed laws that apply universally except love.

  1st of the 4 working principles. All circumstances are different- no absolutes. Fletcher maintains all decisions must be guided by christian love. Right response depends on each situations.
• situation ethics- Pragmatism= 4 working principles

  Definition- any action must be practically possible in working to serve a loving outcome.

  An action thats practical. Its worked if love is the end result.
• Situation ethics- positivism- 4 working principles


  defintion- you cant prove love is the most important thing. We must just have faith that it is and apply our reasoning afterwards.

  Cannot use your reason to prove love is right. Faith comes first, not reason.
• situation ethics- personalism- 4 working principles.

  definiton- the individual person is the priority and love for them is more important than the detail of any law
• situation ethics - good


  F gave 6 fundamental principles to outline what christian agape is. Actions arent good or bad in themselves but good or evil depending on whether they promote the most loving result.
• situation ethics- rule

  Love replaces law and is the new rule. Jesus replaced the torah with the principle of love.
• situation ethics - equals justice

  Love + Justice cannot be seperated, they're the same thing. For F, justice is christian love using its head. Justice = love at work in the whole community. If love were followed, everyone in society would be treated fairly.
• situation ethics - attitude

  Love = attitude not a feeling. Love based on our will not our emotions= we choose to show our love. Show love to even your enemies.
• situation ethics -teleological

  focuses on end result. Actions become right depending on outcome. All actions can be defended if end result was worth it.