RS A2 Relativism Ethics

A-Level Religious Studies CCEA

ethical relativism

ethical relativism

-McCay- ‘not based on absolute or universal laws’

-morality is not fixed, instead it varies from different cultures, different people at different times

teleological approach

Utili and SE are both relativist, situationist, flexible and teleological approaches

SE

-McCay- something is moral if it follows the ‘most loving course of action’

-relativist as moral under one condition, immoral under another condition

-Thompson ‘only one duty and that is to love’

-fletcher was the developer of SE, he rejected legalism (laws before people) was heavily influenced by Jesus and his critism of the Pharisees- healed a man on sabbath day

SE four working principles

there are the core principles of SE

1. Pragmatism- It must be practical and solve moral problems effectively. The only thing to be judged 'is love.'

2. Relativism- Fletcher states that situation ethics 'relativises the absolute.' There are no moral absolutes. A situationist should avoid words like 'never', always' or 'absolutely.

3. Positivism- Faith in Jesus is voluntary and freely chosen. Agape-most important standard for followers of Christ.

4. Personalism- Situation ethics puts people first and avoids legalism. 'The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.? People are always the most important.

six fundamental principles of SE

basis of SE

1. ‘love and justice are the same, for justice love distributed, nothing else’

2. ‘love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not’

Utili

-Vardy and Grosch ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’

-is relativist because morality can vary for different people at different times in different circumstances

Utili- the contribution of Bentham: Act Utilit

-experience as much pleasure as possible and avoid pain- ‘two sovereign masters’

-Bowie- ‘good is the maximisation of pleasure and the minimisation of pain’

-created the hedonic calculus- what actions promote the most happiest

-there are 7 in total but heres two examples:

extent- how many people will experience the pleasure?

purity- will the experience be totally free from pain?

utili- the contribution of Mill: Rule Utili

-not a moral absolutist, acceptable to lie if information is going to be used for evil

-agreed with greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount

-Vardy and Grosch- Mill wanted to ‘define pleasure more carefully’

-felt that sorely focusing on pleasure was ‘fit for swine’

-happiness should be the ‘controller’ but not the ‘sole end’ of everything we do

-different levels of pleasure: High: mind- literary and artistic pursuits Low: Physical- eating, drinking, sex. (Higher and Lower Pleasures)

-Harm Principle- protect individual’s autonomy to stop them suffering at the hands of a majority. Mill stated individual’s autonomy was ‘sovereign' but that power could be asserted over someone to ‘prevent harm to others’

-resolves the dangerous aspect of the approach

The contribution of Peter Singer: Preference Util

-RM Hare coined Singer’s interpretation of Utili

-considers happiness of those directly involved, as long as they don’t conflict with other’s preferences

-Hare ‘maximises the chances that everyone’s preferences will be satisfied’

Infanticide- if society can permit abortion then they should accept infanticide. ‘if the foetus does not have the same claim to life as a person, it appears the newborn baby does not either’

animal rights- animals who he deems to be ‘persons’. Singer totally opposed to the suffering of animals and claims inflicting pain on animals is ‘speciesism’

environmental ethics- moral responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations. If an action results in environmental pollution, it is immoral. if we throw out recyclable material then we are ‘vandals’ and ‘thieves’

world poverty- donates 20% of his income to oxford. Little difference between killing someone and letting someone die (acts and omissions). developed countries not helping developing countries are ‘murderers’. 20% of the population own 80% of the world’s wealth and resources

the role of utili in moral decision making

-easy to understand and apply because it is based on ‘clear principles’ (Thompson)

-it does not require the acceptance of any previous beliefs about the world or religion and can be appreciated in ‘different cultures’ (Thompson)

-impartial and insists on treating everyone as equals. Mill ‘everyone counts for one, nobody counts for more than one’

-doesnt take account of race, social status, gender and Widdows claims this is what makes it ‘important’

-practical theory that can be applied easily to sexual ethics. Contraception would be deemed morally acceptable to prevent the spread of diseases and as a form of birth control

-same sex relationships morally acceptable as long as they are consenting and bring about happiness

-Bowie utili used for hospitals, where fixed budgets must be used to alleviate suffering

-clark provided influence on modern reforms such as Divorce and Abortion acts of the 1969s

criticisms of util

-fails to recognise the importance of personal relationships. choose between spouse or scientist

-puts emphasis only on the consequences of our actions and fails to look at the motives of our actions. Rosenstand- neighbour turns on furnace to warm up friends house whilst on holiday, burns downs. Motives good but util only consequences of their actions matter