What foundations is the theory built upon?
– Distrust in government of the authority (Live protests 60s USA)
– Changes in family structure
– Sexual freedom
What does Robinson believe Christian truth depends on?
– The circumstances at the time
– He attempted to develop a Christian ethic that was both true to Christianity and accessible and relevant to this time
What does absolutism mean?
Always following the laws, regardless
What does relativism mean?
You act relative to circumstances
What does Deus ex Machina mean ?
– God of the machine
– God can’t fix everything – you need to solve your own issues and be responsible Fletcher argues instead that Humans must reason, choose, and take responsibility.
What does Robinson believe about morality in the modern age?
But there was a new morality, which he believed was situation ethics
Who did Robinson believe situation ethics was for?
-‘A man come of age’
– Someone who is responsible for the actions and understands the consequences
What did Jesus say about the sabbath and what did Fletcher say about it?
– ‘The sabbath is made for man, not man for the sabbath’
– In the Bible, Jesus broke the rules to do the most loving thing he healed a lepar. Fletcher interpreted it as people are more important than rules
What is legalistic ethics?
Relying on following absolute rules
What is antinomian Ethics?
Antinomian ethics is the idea that there are no fixed moral rules that must always be followed.
What is situation ethics?
Situation ethics state that there are no moral laws or rules and that the context is important. The general rule of this approach is that the correct action should be the most loving action
Define the term agape use the acronym
D - divine (from God)
u - unconditional (not dependent on anuthing)
S - self sacrificing (put others 1st)
A - active (you have to do it)
C - choice ( own will)
E - emotionless
Give a quote from Fletcher about agape
– Love is the ultimate law
What are the four working principles? 
– Pragmatism – practical
– Relativism – relative, treat each situation differently
– Positivism – freely choose to believe and agape
– Personalism – people are the most important not laws
Give a quote from Fletcher, suggesting that you should do things that you know work
– Pragma not dogma
What does pragma mean?
Doing things that you know work
What does dogma mean?
Things that all Catholics believe in without questioning
What is fletches unique situation of the burning house?
He suggests that if your house is burning down, and you could either save your dad or a doctor with a cure for a disease, you should choose the doctor as it’s the most loving thing
What is fletches unique situation of the crying baby?
He suggests that if you and your group are hiding from a group of attackers who were trying to kill you and your baby starts crying you should Kill the baby, as it’s the most agape thing to do you save more people
What is fletches unique situation of the harsh nurse?
A military nurse who deliberately treated a patient harshly, so they’d be determined to get fit and leave Was doing the most agape thing
What does Fletcher reply to the criticism that his examples are too extreme and unrealistic?
He agrees but argued in normal cases, the general guidelines could be used
How does William Barclay criticise situation ethics?
– People can be swayed by emotion
– Unconscious bias
– unique situations are too extreme. It’s much easier to argue that extraordinary situations need extra ordinary measures.
– It’s too optimistic and gives people a terrifying degree of freedom, people need laws
How does the Catholic Church criticise situation ethics?
-individualistic - it was wrong to break gods laws
- It deontological, the intentions are filled with love, but I’m not focused on the result
– agape isn’t as simple, we are humans and are selfish. For example, you can’t love a stranger as you love your kids
– Susan Wolfe says situation ethics only works for ‘moral saints’. We, as humans aren’t divine and have emotion.
– too permissive, it says nothing is wrong. There are some things that are just wrong for example, rape.
– Pope Pius, X I.I band talking about situation ethics
