Situation ethics

Who created situation ethics?

Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991)

Who was Joseph Fletcher?

American ethicist who taught christian and medical ethics

What was the name of his book?

Situation ethics : The New Morality

What was his argument on morality?

• Morality should serve love 

• Agape love should be the centre of ethics 

Situation ethics view on morality

People should aim to so the most loving thing in a situation and if they do that they are doing the right thing

What is agape?

Christian love which is unconditional and reflects the love of God

Name the three kinds of moral thinking divided by fletcher

1) Legalistic ethics 

2) Antinomian ethics

3) Situational ethics 

What is legalistic ethics?

A set of defined rules which tell you how to behave e.g. Aquinas’ precepts in Natural Law

What was fletcher view on legalistic ethics?

Believes life is to complex and rules would always have to change for different eventualities, which would only lead to confusion

What is antinomian ethics?

• Opposite of legalistic ethics

• No law and system at all 

How did fletcher criticise antinomian ethics?

Stated ‘ it is literally unprincipled, purely ad hoc and casual. They are exactly anarchic’

What is situational ethics?

• The morality of an action depends on the situation

• People come above all law

• All moral decisions are hypothetical and we may never reach a conclusion on the right thing to do

• Ethics is based on circumstances and love rather than actions and rules

How do situationists act?