Situation Ethics 1966

Situation Ethics 1966

1. Joseph Fletcher

2. Agape

   • one guiding principle
   • 'selfless love'
   • given constantly and unconditionally
   • Greek word to describe God's love for humanity

3. Relativistic

   • no universal moral norms
   • every situation has to be looked at independently

4. Consequential

   • moral judgements should be based on consequences

5. Teleological

   • concerned with end purpose

6. Rejection

   • Antinomianism
     • 'against law'
     • no obligation to follow law
     • could be moral chaos
   • Legalism
     • exalts laws above everything else
     • no choice
   • 'middle way'
     • no rules but one guiding principle

7. 10 Principles

   • 4 Working Principles
     • Pragmatism
       • practical
     • Positivism
       • most loving way is right thing to do
     • Personalism
       • put people first
     • Relativism
       • reject 'never' and 'always'
   • 6 Fundamental
     • 'the ruling norm of any Christian decision is love, nothing else.'
     • 'only one thing is intrinsically good; namely, love; nothing else at all.'
     • 'a loving end justifies the means.'
     • 'love's decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.'
     • 'love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else.'
     • 'love wills the good of others, regardless of feelings.'