As Religious studies - Situation Ethics

Some ethical theories suggest legalistic rules that we should never break, but this makes rules more important than people and gives no exceptions. A Situationist has respect for law, often follows them but is free to make a right choice depending on the situation they face.

One of the primary concepts that situation ethics is based around is Agape love.

'Agape' - Concern for others, true unconditional love

The key scholar who composed the theory is Fletcher, who uses the term 'best interest' and implies we act out of love for others and wanting to server their interests to the best of our ability.

To further his devlopment of situation ethics Fletcher composed 4 working principles for how a situationist should operate, and his 6 fundamental principles about situation ethics.

Fletcher was an acedamic man who spent a large amount of time in different universities across America, he later taught at Union Theological Seminary for future priests and ministers. Much of his inspiration for situation ethics came from the idea of Agape by Paul in the bible, which eventually led to Fletcher composing his own book using love as a test for moral actions.

He finally produced this book in 1966, when America was deep within the Vietnam war against communism and causing many riots within school grounds. Fletcher despised the war in Vietnam and wanted to return the 'Law of love', which to him was a main feature of christian morality.

Later however he rejected his faith, claiming it was the wrong way to voncey love. Fletcher focused on Forgiveness and reconciliation in his writings, and centered many of his beliefs around Pauls first letter to Corinthians which was based on Agape love.

He tries to apply Agape from the bible to the modern world, using it as a moral test for situations. He found trouble applying it to modern life, and eventually comprmised argueing that Christians needed to find a Midway between legalism and antinomianism, he wanted to produce Consequentialism and composed it on 4 main principles

Pragmatism:

- For the course of action to be right, it must be pratical. The catholic church would allow 2 conjoined twins to die because saving one to let anothe rdie is wrong, But fletcher argued to let 2 die is not pragmatic. It is love that is good, not an outcome, in practice this makes Fletchers theory similer to Singers Utilitarianism

Relativism:

- Means that absolute rules dont allways apply, its dependent on the situation. For example stealing food for love, to feed your starving family is not wrong. But it doesnt mean anything goes, instead it takes a 'whatever the situation demands' approach

Positivism:

- Kant and natural law are based on reason, which can find the right course of action. Fletcher disagrees, you have to begin with a positive choice and do what is good. There is simply no rational answer to questions like 'why should i love?'

Personalism:

- Situatuionists put people first, when it comes to a comparison people should be prioratised over rules. 'Man was not made for the Sabbath'

'Only one thing is instrinsically good;namel love: nothing else at all'

Love has value, it is god and nothing else has value like it does

'The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else'

Love over law, law should be obeyed and written in the interests of love

'Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distrubted and nothing else'

There is no difference between justice and love, they are the same

'Love wills he neighbors good whether we like him or not'

Love is discerning and critical not sentimental

'Only the end justifies the means; nothing else'

'Love decides, there and then'