Situation Ethics
- Created by: hypatia7
- Created on: 25-11-17 11:22
Situation Ethics
Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991) - published work 'Situation Ethics'
-Takes agape as test of all moral actions (agape- communal love which asks for nothing in return)
-Middle ground between legalism and antinomianism
(Legalism - fixed laws to be obeyed)
(Antinomianism - no laws present to be obeyed)
-Moral action depends on situation
-Set aside rules/ethics/tradition if agape love is better served by doing so
-'Loving people, not laws'
-Single, absolute principle - agape love
-Rejects 'prescriptive rules'
-Rooted in New Testament - looks to actions of Jesus, who set aside laws/broke rules for the good of the people
-'Limited consequentalism' (agapeistic)
(Consequentalism - consequences of an action determine whether it is the right thing to do)
-Fletcher: love "regardless of context" is "always good and right in every situation. Love is the only universal".
-NOT a relativist theory since there is ONE universal (agape love).
-Particular judgements may be relative but absolute maxim of love must be applied
Four Working Principles
-Principles that need to be applied for Situation Ethics to work
-Pragmatism…
Comments
No comments have yet been made