SE theory by…
Joseph Fletcher
What are situation ethics?
what is the most loving thing to do in that situation. believe in agape love
Are situation ethics deontological or teleological ethics and why?
teleological as they are relative to the situation
What 2 ethical systems is SE in the middle of?
- antinomianism - freedom from any external rules
- legalism - absolute, established rules
What are the 4 working principles of SE?
- Pragmatism
- Relativism
- Positivism
- Personalism
What is pragmatism?
The action has to work. Practical
What is relativism?
Situation relative to agape
What is positivism?
Faith comes first e.g. Christianity
What is personalism?
Puts the person first
What are the 6 fundamental principles?
- Only one thing is intrinsically good - love
- The ruling norm of Christian decisions is love: nothing else
- Love and justice are the same: justice is love distributed
- Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not
- Only the end justifies the means, nothing else
- Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively
Give the main example for biblical support of SE and explain
‘The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath’ - Mark 2:27
Fletcher used this to show that Jesus himself was a situationist as he healed a man on the Sabbath, when everyone is meant to have the day off. Jesus broke the rules to do the most loving thing.
Origin of agape (love)
Pure, unconditional love which is the work of Jesus
Comes from the Hebrew word ‘aheb’ referred to in the Good Samaritan. It is the spontaneous and implusive love from and towards humans
Name of biblical texts that support the idea of agape being the overriding priciple
- 10 Commandments
- Leviticus laws
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan
- Mark 12:30-31 - ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
What is agape love in terms of the priciples of SE?
the BOSS PRINCIPLE
What did Fletcher believe about homosexuality during the 1900s?
Argued that laws making (male) homosexuality illegal were outdated, inconsistent, hypocritical and unjust
Give a quote about what Fletcher said about homosexuality
‘whether any form of sex (hetero, homo) is good or evil depends on whether love is fully served’
Fletcher’s beliefs on sex laws (homosexuality)
Believed sex laws should be restricted by 3 criteria:
1. Age of consent
2. Infringement of public decency
3. Acts involving violence, public assault, fraud etc.
