Situation Ethics (Normative ethical theories part 2/3) AQQ A Level Religious Studies

Who was Joseph Fletcher?

1905-1991.

• American philosopher.

• Most modern of the philosophers on

this part of the course.

• He was writing during the social

turbulence of the 1960’s.

• He once was a devout Christian but

turned his back on religion and became

an atheist.

• Was a supporter of abortion and

euthanasia.

What is antinominalism?

The view that there are no moral laws or rules. People should act spontaneously in each situation to decide what is right

What is situationism?

Fletcher argues that

situation ethics is not

antinomianism because

individuals have ‘the

ethical maxims of his

community and its

heritage’ to draw on It

does not become

legalism because these

maxims can be

abandoned if agape

love is better shown

another way

What is legalism?

The view that morality

is based on laws or

commands that must

always be followed.

What are the four working principles?

Pragmatism. An action should work to maximise love. If it does not, then it has no value.

Relativism. Everything is relative to the situation.

Positivism. Ethical norms are judgements and not rational. Just as you don’t rationally justify your favourite music, art and so on. For Fletcher, God comes first, a bit like Anselm when he says “I believe so that I may understand”.

Personalism.

People take priority over rules. People are to be loved, not rules.

For Christian Situation Ethics, “Imago Dei” (in God’s image) is an

important thing to remember about humanity.

What are the six working principles?

What is agapaic calculus?

The way we can determine what actions bring about the most love

What are the strengths and weaknesses of his argument? (Part 1)

What are the strengths and weaknesses of his argument? (Part 2)