Subject: RE Topic: Situation Ethics Year Group: 12

Introduction into Situation Ethics Propositions and Principles Key Vocabulary 1 What is a teleological ethic? Moral goodness is 1 What are the six Only love is intrinsically good, determined by the end fundamental principles? love is the ruling norm, love Justice Fletcher specifically see result and justice are the same, love justice as a kind of tough wills good, the end justifies the love; love applied to the 2 Who created the theory? Joseph Fletcher means, loves decisions are world situational Pragmatism Acting, in moral situations, in 3 What does situational Theory focused on the 2 What are the four Pragmatism, relativism, a way that is practical, rather ethics means? situation not fixed rules working propositions? positivism, Personalism than ideologically 4 What are Fletcher’s three Legalistic, antinomian, 3 What is Pragmatism? Being practical rather than Relativism The rejection of absolute approaches to moral situational following ideology moral standards, such as laws thinking? or rights. 4 What is Relativism? Avoiding absolutism 5 What does Agape mean? Unconditional self- Positivism Proposes something as true sacrificing love 5 What is Positivism? Accepting love is intrinsically and good without demonstrating it 6 Is the theory absolute or Relative- it has no fixed good and God is love relative? rules 6 What is Personalism? Situationalists put humans first Personalism Ethics centred on people, rather than laws or objects Ideas behind the theory Critiques Conscience A function rather than a 1 What is Legalism? There are fixed rules that faculty are universal 1 What does individualistic Too focused on the Teleological ethics Moral goodness is mean? individual not the mass 2 What is antinomianism? Denial of any possibility of determined by the end result rules 2 Which theory does it Natural law and Legalistic ethics Law-based moral decision- 3 What is situationism? The only rule is love, it conflict with mostly? Aquinas making Fletchers position 3 Which Biblical teaching is ‘Love thy neighbour’ Antinomian ethics Do not recognise the role of 4 Name two influences on William Temple it based on? the law in morality situation ethics Aristotle 4 It is teleological or Teleological its focused Situational ethics Another term for situation 5 Whose teachings is Jesus deontological? on the end result ethics, focused on the situation ethics based situation not fixed rules upon? 5 What society did Fletcher Euthanasia Society Agape Unconditional love, the only run? 6 Why is situation ethics It was rejected by the ethical norm not a Christian Ethics? church and Fletcher 6 Name three scholars to Paul Tillich, William Extrinsically good Good defined with reference stopped following apply Temple, J.A.T to the end rather than good Christianity whilst Robinson in and of itself. Only Love is maintaining Situation ethics intrinsically good.

Situation ethics is a Christian ethic but is very different from other theories such as Natural Law. Its main thinker is Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991) who put forward the idea that in any situation the best action is that which results in the most loving outcome. Fletcher argues the everyone should follow ‘agape’ love which Jesus shows in the New Testament. What the most loving thing is depends on the situation, hence the name. Subject: RE Retrieval Quiz: Situation ethics Year Group: 12

Introduction into Situation Ethics Ideas behind the theory Key Vocabulary

1 What is a teleological 1 What is Legalism? Justice ethic? 2 Who created the theory? 2 What is antinomianism? Pragmatism 3 What does situational 3 What is situationism? ethics means? Relativism 4 What are Fletcher’s three 4 Name two influences on approaches to moral situation ethics Positivism thinking? 5 Whose teachings is 5 What does Agape mean? situation ethics based upon? Personalism 6 Is the theory absolute or 6 Why is situation ethics relative? not a Christian Ethics? Conscience

Propositions and Principles Critiques 1 What are the six Teleological 1 What does individualistic fundamental principles? argument mean?

2 What are the four Legalistic ethics working propositions? 2 Which theory does it conflict with mostly? 3 What is Pragmatism? 3 Which Biblical teaching is Antinomian it based on? ethics 4 What is Relativism? 4 It is teleological or Situational deontological? ethics 5 What is Positivism?

5 What society did Fletcher Agape 6 What is Personalism? run?

6 Name three scholars to Extrinsically apply good Year 1 Ethics: Situation Ethics

What the specification says Situation ethics is a Christian ethic but is very Case for situation ethics being Case for situation ethics not different from other theories such as Natural religious being religious Agape Origins of agape in the NT and its Law. Its main thinker is Joseph Fletcher religious development according to (1905-1991) who put forward the idea that in any situation the best action is that which • Jesus suggests that there • His choice of Jesus’ Fletcher results in the most loving outcome. is only two teachings is highly Fletcher argues the everyone should follow commandments ‘Love selective – focus on hell The six What they are and how they link to ‘agape’ love which Jesus shows in the New propositions moral decision making Testament. God’ and ‘Love your and not heaven What the most loving thing is depends on the neighbour as yourself’ • Jesus tells his disciples if The four working What they are and how they are situation, hence the name. • Jesus in the NT opposes they love him they will principles intended to be used Its legalism by the Pharisees obey him- implies Conscience What it is and what it is not according to teleological • Jesus argues that love is commandments other Fletcher the primary evidence of than love the genuineness of • His interpretation of Discuss Fletcher’s theory on the following: religious faith agape is not explicitly • Whether it provides a helpful method of moral decision- making Christian • Whether a situation can be judged good or bad, given any • Similar to Act situation, using agape Utilitarianism • Whether Fletcher’ use of agape is actually religious or not • Whether or not the rejection of absolute rules makes moral decision making entirely individualistic and The core idea in situation subjective ethics is Agape. It is key to Fletcher because it is based Apply situation ethics to: both on God’s love for creation and the command to Agape: • Abortion Link to Bonhoeffer! • love thy neighbour. unconditional Rape He also made • Euthanasia love decisions based on • Adultery the situation Don’t think love is always • Prostitution nice and kind. Sometimes Agape love is tough love Legalism Situationism Antinomianism Fletcher’s six propositions • Making ethical • According to Fletcher • Having no law at all. 1. Only one thing is intrinsically Four working principles decision making is by it’s the right approach • They believe in good, love, nothing else. 1. Pragmatism- requires solutions in a system of laws. in the middle. complete freedom to 2. The ruling norm of Christian action. • Thinking there were • It means knowing when make ones own decision is love, nothing else. too many rules at the to apply the situation decision. 2. Relativism- Love is absolute 3. Love and justice are the same, time of Jesus and when to recognise • Some Christians believe everything else is relative to it. • Natural Law has too exceptions. ‘the spirit will guide you love is justice distributed many rules as does instead’ 4. Love wills the neighbour good 3. Positivism- we create the good • • Catholicism Like game tactics, the But this may lead to whether we like him or not. rather than discovering it • Protestants who take expert knows when to anarchy according to 5. Only the end justifies the means, the Bible literally are ignore the general rule Fletcher nothing else also guilty and know what agape 4. Personalism- people are the requires in that 6. Love’s decisions are made ultimate moral value situation situationally.