Situation Ethics

• Who created Situation Ethics?

  Joseph Fletcher
• When was Situation Ethics created?

  The 1960s
• What is Situation Ethics?

  A moral approach that prioritizes showing love and care to those involved in a situation, rejecting absolute rules and considering context.
• What is Agape?

  The concept of selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial love that is central to Situation Ethics.
• Application of Agape


  Agape as a universal ethic that can be applied across situations, but its effectiveness can be challenged by cultural and contextual differences.
• Relationship between Agape and other virtues

  Agape is the pinnacle of virtues, encompassing and including others such as justice, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, and humility.
• Situation Ethics uses Liberal Christianity.
• Legalism vs Antinomianism

  Joseph Fletcher said that Situation Ethics didn't follow Legalism or Antinomianism. Instead it is a middle ground.
• Legalism is the view that everybody must follow set rules.
• Antinomianism is the view that there are no rules or laws to follow.
• Agape is taken from Jesus saying that 'the greatest commandment' is to 'love your neighbour as yourself'.
• What are the Four Working Principles?

  1. Pragmatism
  2. Relativism
  3. Positivism
  4. Personalism
• Pragmatism means that an action must be calibrated to the intensity of the situation.
• Relativism means that nothing is absolute. For example, the Bible says to not kill, however killing may be the most loving thing to do (agapeic) in the situation.
• Positivism is the belief that ethics begin with a faith in Jesus, rather than being based on reason.
• Personalism means putting people above rules.
• There are Six Fundamental Principles. These include:

  1. Love is the only intrinsic good.
  2. The ruling of Christian norm is love.
  3. Love and justice are the same.
  4. To love your neighbour regardless of any personal feelings.
  5. Only the end justifies the means.
  6. Love decides there and then.
• Fletcher's view on conscious it that is what enables you to figure out agape in your specific situation. Conscience to Fletcher is a verb, not a noun. He disagreed that it was a moral compass.
• A strength of Situation Ethics is that it is designed for modern society.
• William Barclay's Challenge


  Situation Ethics gives people too much autonomy and freedom. For freedom to be good, love has to be perfect. Not everybody is a saint, so we still require laws and rules to follow.
• Criticism of William Barclay's Challenge

  His argument is weak as legalism has worse downsides. It is better to have too much flexibility and freedom than to have none at all.
• Another strength of Situation Ethics is that it was founded on a liberal approach to the Bible. He does not find the Bible to be the perfect word of God, instead we should use it as a moral guide.
• Criticism of Fletcher's approach to the Bible. 


  Some have argued that Fletcher's approach to the Bible means that his teachings aren't truly Christian. The Bible focuses on other aspects than just love, which Fletcher solely talks about.
• Defending Fletcher from criticism.

  It is impossible to truly know what the meaning of the Bible is, so Fletcher is just an interpretation. There is nothing to say he is incorrect or correct. His interpretation is that agape is the main theme of the Bible.
• A strength of Situation Ethics is that it aligns with Jesus' approach to ethics and morality. Jesus allowed people to break rules and emphasised the importance of love.
• Richard Mouw's criticism


  Mouw argues that is illogical to only follow some of Jesus' teachings and messages. We should either use them as a complete moral guide or not at all. Further, Fletcher claims that the end justifies the means but Romans 3:8 condemns this.
• Romans 3:8 And why not say - as we are accused and as some claim we say - that we should do evil that good may come of it? Their penalty is what they deserve. Universal Bondage to Sin.
• Arguments against Mouw 


  Fletcher argues that Jesus himself was a role model in going against the rules if needed and that following Jesus' teachings with a rigid approach does not work. His teachings can be approached both legalistically and situationally.
• Agape means 'Christian love' rather than just 'love'. It is the love Jesus had. This can be too subjective, someone may think that they are doing the loving thing, but it is supposed to be selfless love.
• C Hitchens believes that loving your neighbour the same way you love yourself is only successful if you love yourself enough.