Situation ethics

What quote summarises situation ethics

'All you need is love'

What are the 3 approaches to moral thinking

Legalistic

Situational

Antinomian

What is the legalistic approach to moral thinking

Laws accumulate to cover all eventualities. E.g. once murder was prohibited, this law then has to consider its ruling over other possibilities: self defence, abortion, war.

What must a legalist always do

Must constantly update, develop and add new laws to remain up-to-date

What do fixed laws that are often found in catholic or Protestant teachings have problems with

With updating laws

What is the situational approach to moral thinking

The middle ground between legalistic and antinomian. Moral actions depend of situation and also considers rules, ethics and principles of the community/tradition. Loving people not laws

What are situationists prepared to set aside the rules for

If love is better served by doing so

What is the only absolute rule situationists believe in

Absolute rule of love that needs to be applied situationally

What is antinomian

The opposite of legalistic

What is the antinomian approach to moral thinking

Not applying any kind of law, rule, principle or system of ethics. Every moral decision is unique, following no patterns or preferences

Who were fans of the antinomian approach to moral thinking

Nietzsche and Satre were fans, who believed that there no rules to follow your own choices

Inspirations of situation ethics

In the bible Jesus makes love central. When Jesus was asked which commandment is first: 'Jesus answered, 'the first is Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God... you shall love your God with all your heart'... The second is this, 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself' there is no other commandment greater than these'

St Paul quote about love

'And now faith, hope and love abide... and the greatest of these is love'

Who is the founder of situation ethics

Fletcher (1905-1991)

What does fletcher apply to situation ethics

Christian origins of agape love in his moral system. He roots it in the New Testament (Jesus' actions) Jesus broke the rules for the good of the people and love

What is situation ethics for fletcher

A Christina ethic that should focus on a flexible message of forgiving grace founded on... love, rather than rigid rules, law and commandments (even though many churches disagree)

Inspirations of situation ethics (the people)

Archbishop William temple who's ethic was personalist and love centred

Archbishop William temple quote

'There is only one ultimate and invariable duty, and its formula is 'thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' how to do this is another question, but this is the whole moral duty'

What did fletcher conclude from archbishop

That love 'regardless of context' is always god and right in every situation. Love is the only universal'

What did rudolf bultmann argue

the idea that Jesus sough to establish some new ethical ideology. Jesus had no other ethics than 'love thy neighbour'

What did Karl bath argue

'Gods commanding' is not a rule but applied individually to each specific example

What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer argue

The will of God in any situation is based on: needs of one's neighbour and the model of Jesus

Agape

Unconditional love (Greek word meaning love) was adopted by Christian's to refer to Jesus' sacrificial and generous love for others

What makes unconditional love different from other types of love

-love for others

-does not have to be returned

-selfless

-core of a life of faith

-the key measure for goodness or badness

What do many people argue fletchers theory is

Relativist (no universals)

What does fletcher make very clear about his theory

That there is one universal and that is love

What might be relative to the situation

Particular judgements but the absolute maxim of love must be applied

Can non religious use situation ethics

Yes fletcher gave up his belief on Christianity but didn't give up on situation ethics. He states the difference between Christian and non Christian situationists is that the former clearly and directly equates good with agape while the non Christian will find some other account

What are the 6 fundamental principles?

Love is=

1. The only thing intrinsically good

2. Deciding factor in Christian decisions

3. Justice

4. For your neighbour - friend or foe

5. The end result

6. Situational

Four working propositions

1. Pragmatism: being practical rather than always following belief in ideologies or systems. Experience not theory looks at what works

2. Relativism: every situation is relative to Christian love

3. Positivism: love does not need to be demonstrated to know it is true and good. Situation ethics depends on Christian's freely choosing faith that God is love, so giving first place to Christian love (leap of faith)

4. Personalism: person centred. Focusing on putting people first and taking responsibility for others

What is conscience for situationism

It's a verb (doing word) the process of making decisions. The process is moral reasoning is informed by situation and of course love

What is conscience not

Not a soul/ spiritual voice. Not. Noun

William Barclay quote that argues against situation ethics

'If we insists hat in every situation man must make his own decision, then first of all we must make man morally and lovingly fit to make that decision; otherwise we need the compulsion of law to make him do it'

What is it a mistake to interpret fletchers theory as

Offering a solution to solving moral problems. He did not think ethic worked that way because the modern world is so uncertain

What does fletcher actually want us to do

Be aware of certain key principles when making moral decisions in hope that the decision we make is the right one

What does fletchers theory contrast with

Most other ethical theories which posit their arguments are the answer to ethical questions