Situation Ethics 1966

Joseph Fletcher
Agape
1. one guiding principle
2. 'selfless love'
3. given constantly and unconditionally
4. Greek word to describe God's love for humanity
Relativistic
1. no universal moral norms
2. every situation has to be looked at independently
Consequential
1. moral judgements should be based on consequences
Teleological
1. concerned with end purpose
Rejection
1. Antinomianism
  1. 'against law'
  2. no obligation to follow law
  3. could be moral chaos
2. Legalism
  1. exalts laws above everything else
  2. no choice
3. 'middle way'
  1. no rules but one guiding principle
10 Principles
1. 4 Working Principles
  1. Pragmatism
    1. practical
  2. Positivism
    1. most loving way is right thing to do
  3. Personalism
    1. put people first
  4. Relativism
    1. reject 'never' and 'always'
2. 6 Fundamental
  1. 'the ruling norm of any Christian decision is love, nothing else.'
  2. 'only one thing is intrinsically good; namely, love; nothing else at all.'
  3. 'a loving end justifies the means.'
  4. 'love's decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.'
  5. 'love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.'
  6. 'love wills the good of others, regardless of feelings.'

Resource summary

	Created by romileesime1996 about 11 years ago