A-Level RS Ethics: Situation Ethics

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the core concepts, presuppositions, working principles, applications, and AO2 criticisms of Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics.

Situation Ethics (Situationism)

A moral theory created by Joseph Fletcher (1960). It sits in the middle between having no rules and following strict rules, deciding what is right based on Christian love in each situation.

Legalism

An ethical approach based on strict obedience to moral rules.

Antinomianism

The ethical position that there are no moral rules at all, the opposite extreme to legalism.

Agape Love

Selfless, unconditional love for others and the only thing that is good on its own. It is backed by Bible quotes like 'Love your neighbour as yourself' and 'Do everything in love.'

Pragmatism (Fletcher's Presupposition)

The presupposition that a moral action must be practical and achieve a loving outcome.

Relativism (Fletcher's Presupposition)

The presupposition that morality is relative to the situation, meaning there are no absolute rules.

Positivism (Fletcher's Presupposition)

The starting idea that someone chooses through faith to believe love is good in itself, based on the Christian view that God is love.

Personalism (Fletcher's Presupposition)

The presupposition that people matter more than rules, asserting that ethics are person-centred.

Fletcher's Six Fundamental Principles

The main ideas of Situation Ethics: 1. Only love is truly good in itself; 2. Love is the main rule for making decisions; 3. Justice means sharing love fairly; 4. Love wants what is best for other people; 5. Any action is okay if the result is loving; 6. Choices depend on the situation, not strict rules.

Conscience (Fletcher)

A way of thinking through right and wrong in the moment, not a fixed list of rules inside you.

Agape-Calculus

Weighing everyone's needs to figure out which choice brings about the greatest amount of love in a situation.

Situationist View on Homosexual Relationships

A relationship evaluated by whether it is faithful and filled with agape love; if it meets these criteria, it is judged to be morally acceptable.

Situationist View on Livestock Research for Genetic-Disease Cures

An example where testing on animals is seen as acceptable if the end result is loving, such as saving human lives.

Strengths of Situation Ethics

Gives people the freedom to make caring choices; stays flexible for modern problems; and follows Jesus' example by choosing mercy over strict rules.

Barclay's 'If All Men Were Saints' Criticism

William Barclay's argument that Situation Ethics only succeeds if humans are completely selfless and able to calculate agape love accurately; because humans are biased and selfish, they can abuse the theory to justify wrongful actions.

Barclay's Freedom and Lack of Laws Criticism

William Barclay's warning that having no everyday rules gives people too much freedom, which can lead to confusion and lack of clear limits.

Biblical Law Criticism

The traditional Christian critique that Situation Ethics is un-biblical because it disregards fixed commandments like the Ten Commandments, ignoring that Jesus came to fulfill the law rather than abolish all moral rules.

Subjectivity of Agape Love

A big problem showing that there is no factual way to prove someone acted out of genuine love instead of selfishness, since everyone views love differently.

Jesus as the Model for Situation Ethics

The example used by Fletcher to establish agape love as the supreme moral norm, grounded in Jesus prioritising mercy and human wellbeing over strict legalism (such as healing on the Sabbath).