Ethical Theories

Ethical Theories

Situation Ethics
1. Introduction
  1. Ethical theory that maintains something is moral if it follows the most loving course of action.
  2. Developed by Joesph Fletcher 1905 - 1991
  3. Influenced by the New Testament, so it is religious theory
  4. Teleological approach
  5. No fixed rules or moral absolutes
2. Origin
  1. Three general approches
    1. The legalistic approach
    2. The antinomian or lawless approach
    3. Situational approach
  2. Natural Law is too legalistic
  3. "Attacked the Pharisees' insistence on following Jewish law. Christians should not lay down any law. when they do they become more like the phrasies"
  4. A rule has to be broken in order to follow the most loving course of action
  5. Paul Tillch "The law of love is the ultimate law."
3. Key Principles
  1. Fletcher's Opposition to Casuistry
    1. Fletcher felt it was unacceptable to take a causuistic approach to morality
    2. The only rule or principle was to follow the most loving course of action
    3. Abortion Example and why Fletcher thought it was better to take a situational approach
  2. Four Working Principles
    1. Pragmatism
    2. Relativism
    3. Positivism
    4. Personalism
  3. Six fundamental principles
    1. Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love; nothing else at all
    2. The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else
    3. Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else
    4. Love wills the neighbour's good, whether we like him or not
    5. Only the end justifies the means, nothing else
    6. Love's decisons are made situationally, not prescriptively
4. Application Of Theory
  1. Ukraine/ Berlin prison camp: Fletcher

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