RS a level ETHICS - situation ethics

whole topic with key terms and evaluation

which archbishop was fletcher influenced by and in what aspects of SE

William Temple. Values of love, situationism and personalism

what is antinomianism

an ethical theory that does not recognise the authority of rules, but promotes freedom from external law. Fletcher rejected this because “it is literally unprincipled”, suggesting such a society would fall into anarchy

what is legalism

an ethical theory that there are fixed moral rules which should be followed universally. Fletcher rejected this because in a truly ethical approach a person must come first

what is situationism

a normative ethical theory that believes absolutely in the rule of love, but that it needs to be applied situationally

give a Fletcher quote on love and morality

“the situationist follows a moral law or violates it according to love’s need”

Jesus last supper quote

“just as i have loved you, you also should love one another”

what are the four working principles

pragmatism, relativism, positivism, personalism

what did Fletcher say about conscience

“conscience is a function not a faculty” that describes our attempts to make decisions creatively and constructively; it is not innate intuition

give 2 of Fletcher’s 4 examples

special bombing mission no. 13, wartime sacrifice

Pope Pius xii quote about situation ethics

“(it is) an individualistic and subjective appeal to the concrete circumstances of actions to justify decisions in opposition to the natural law or God’s revealed will”

what did Barclay say about situation ethics in his book “Ethics in a Permissive Society”

that people need rules to live by, as it’s impractical to decide everything for themselves and freedom can become selfishness or cruelty. “To discard the law is to discard experience”

what did Barclay comment about Fletchers belief in free will

humans are not wholly free; their actions are controlled by their upbringing, culture and personality

4 limitations of situation ethics

Unfair as justice cannot be served when everybody is not treated equally e.g. Hiroshima and Nagasaki (special bombing mission no.13) example

Idolises the individual, which Robinson said would cause a society to “descend into moral chaos”

undermines the value of the church and the bible

Vagueness makes it impossible to decide what the loving thing to do it in every situation

which Biblical figure taught agape

Jesus

1 strength of situation ethics

its relativist structure allows for its relevance in a modern society, in which relativist ethics are increasingly more popular and accepted than deontological ethical theories like natural moral law

quote from Fletcher on personalism

“love is by people, of people, and for people”

quote from Fletcher on conscience

“the traditional error is in thinking about conscience as a noun instead of a verb”

Quote from William Temple on overarching duty to love

‘one ultimate and invariable duty, and its formula is ‘thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’’

Quote from fletcher on the overarching principle of SE

‘There is only one… law that is binding and unexceptionable, always good and right regardless of the circumstances. that is love’

2 quotes showing agape from the New Testament

John 5:9-10: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you”

John 4:8: “let us love one another, for love comes from God”

2 quotes showing God’s wrath/lack of agape in the Old Testament

Nahum 1:2-3: “the lord is a jealous and avenging God; the lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath”

Exodus 32:10: the Lord says to Moses “my wrath may wax hot against them”

what is pragmatism (1st WP)

grounding ethics in experience not theory, focusing on what practically works

what is relativism (2nd WP)

no moral acts are absolute, as everything is relative to the one absolute of love

what is positivism (3rd WP)

starting with the belief that God is Love rather than trying to work it out

what is personalism (4th WP)

people being the ultimate moral value

quote from Fletcher in ‘Situation Ethics’ on personalism

“love is of people, by people, and for people”

6 propositions/fundamental principles in order

only love is intrinsically good

the ruling norm of Christian decision is love; nothing else

love and justice are the same

love always wills the neighbours good

only the end justifies the means; nothing else

love decided then and there