Ethical Theories

Ethical Theories

1. Situation Ethics

   • Introduction
     • Ethical theory that maintains something is moral if it follows the most loving course of action.
     • Developed by Joesph Fletcher 1905 - 1991
     • Influenced by the New Testament, so it is religious theory
     • Teleological approach
     • No fixed rules or moral absolutes
   • Origin
     • Three general approches
       • The legalistic approach
       • The antinomian or lawless approach
       • Situational approach
     • Natural Law is too legalistic
     • "Attacked the Pharisees' insistence on following Jewish law. Christians should not lay down any law. when they do they become more like the phrasies"
     • A rule has to be broken in order to follow the most loving course of action
     • Paul Tillch "The law of love is the ultimate law."
   • Key Principles
     • Fletcher's Opposition to Casuistry
       • Fletcher felt it was unacceptable to take a causuistic approach to morality
       • The only rule or principle was to follow the most loving course of action
       • Abortion Example and why Fletcher thought it was better to take a situational approach
     • Four Working Principles
       • Pragmatism
       • Relativism
       • Positivism
       • Personalism
     • Six fundamental principles
       • Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love; nothing else at all
       • The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else
       • Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else
       • Love wills the neighbour's good, whether we like him or not
       • Only the end justifies the means, nothing else
       • Love's decisons are made situationally, not prescriptively
   • Application Of Theory
     • Ukraine/ Berlin prison camp: Fletcher