Situation Ethics

Situation Ethics

1. The theory of Joseph Fletcher

   • A type of relativist theory
   • Made in 1966 - a time of plenty of radical ideas
   • A response to antinomianism (idea that there is no moral code except what arises from spontaneous acts) and legalism (the idea that everyone must follow a fixed moral code)
     • Midway between the two
     • Avoids the chaos of antinomianism and the 'manual-checking' of legalism
   • Based on the Bible (Fletcher was originally a Christian but became an atheist)
     • Because the Bible doesn't allow us to know exactly what God is thinking, we should try to follow the rule of unconditional love - 'agape'
       • Love is the only thing which is intrinsically good
         • All love must be for others - you must be unselfish
       • We must consider the consequences of our actions
       • Do what you believe to be most loving in every individual situatoin

2. Principles

   • Four Working Principles
     • Positivism
       • Love comes first
     • Pragmatism
       • Looks to practical, reasonable answers
     • Relativism
       • No objective values except love
     • Personalism
       • People, not rules or ideals, come first
   • Six Fundamental Principles
     • I use the WIELDS anagram
       • Love WILLS the good
       • Love is INTRINSICALLY good
       • Love is an END, not a means
       • LOVE is justice
       • Love is DEONTOLOGICAL (it doesn't depend on the situation)
       • What is a loving action depends on the SITUATION

3. For and against Situation Ethics

   • For
     • A theory based on love is very attractive
     • It's a good theory for Christians
       • But you don't have to be Christian or even religious
     • It's flexible - you can intervene, and also adapt - so it's better than relativism or absolutism
     • You can make individual choices, not fixed on rules or following a group
   • Against
     • It's very hard to predict the consequences of your actions
     • There is never a definite answer
     • It might be said to go against Chrisitian teachings, despite being based on Christian love
     • Everything depends on the choice-maker who could be mistaken
     • Why should love be described as 'Christian' love? (Not really a flaw in the theory but might ut people off following it)
     • Might not consider the opinion and preference of the people involved