Normative ethical theories
Situation Ethics
Situation Ethics – Person of Jesus/majority of Christian thought topics. (Talk about
Jesus and his unselfish and everlasting love for others e.g agape).
Situation Ethics – Conscience. (Fletcher’s ideas of what conscience is for him
provides a different view which could potentially maybe be used).
o JOSEPH FLETCHER
o Someone making a moral decision should set aside rules if it seemed that love would
be better served by doing so
o ‘The situationist follows a moral law or violates it according to love’s need’ –Fletcher
o This is advantageous because sometimes rules should be broken. It is a
flexible and loving ethical theory.
o it is important to remember that it DOESN'T REJECT LAWS... but sees them as
useful tools which are not absolutely binding.
o Based on circumstances and love rather than actions and rules
o Flexible and practical theory based on love (agape). Fletcher rejected following rules
regardless (legalism) and also the idea that we should not have any rules
(antinomianism) and said that we need to find a balance between the two.
o Also seen as unjust, individualistic and socially destructive.
o EXAMPLES FLETCHER USES = TOO EXTREME...they account for very few real
instances in life.
Yet they are extreme as situation ethics is only used in exceptional
circumstances, not for everyday life.
o Rejected by Catholic Church
o How moral an act is depends on the situation
o A situationist enters into a dilemma with the rules and principles of his or her
community, however should be prepared to set them aside if love seems better
served doing so.
o However… WHAT IS THE MOST LOVING?... The biggest issue is that there will
always be a dispute as to what is the most loving action is, and what this
actually means in practice. Everyone is subjective and has their own
interpretations of different things- somebody could see one thing as loving
and another person may object. If two people using this system of ethics
came to opposite conclusions as to what they should do, there is no way there
dilemma could be solved because it rejects the absolute rules that could guide
their actions.
o Situationists are more interested in loving people than loving laws
o KARL BARTH- thought it was okay to break some moral laws
o BONHOEFFER- thought that a situation should be dependent only on the need of
ones neighbour and the model of Jesus. Everything else is situational.
o HIS VIEW DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEW TESTAMENT...on morality, the New
testament appears to have clear moral views on theft and adultery, 'thou shall
not steal', 'thou shall not commit adultery' the commandments- these
Situation Ethics
Situation Ethics – Person of Jesus/majority of Christian thought topics. (Talk about
Jesus and his unselfish and everlasting love for others e.g agape).
Situation Ethics – Conscience. (Fletcher’s ideas of what conscience is for him
provides a different view which could potentially maybe be used).
o JOSEPH FLETCHER
o Someone making a moral decision should set aside rules if it seemed that love would
be better served by doing so
o ‘The situationist follows a moral law or violates it according to love’s need’ –Fletcher
o This is advantageous because sometimes rules should be broken. It is a
flexible and loving ethical theory.
o it is important to remember that it DOESN'T REJECT LAWS... but sees them as
useful tools which are not absolutely binding.
o Based on circumstances and love rather than actions and rules
o Flexible and practical theory based on love (agape). Fletcher rejected following rules
regardless (legalism) and also the idea that we should not have any rules
(antinomianism) and said that we need to find a balance between the two.
o Also seen as unjust, individualistic and socially destructive.
o EXAMPLES FLETCHER USES = TOO EXTREME...they account for very few real
instances in life.
Yet they are extreme as situation ethics is only used in exceptional
circumstances, not for everyday life.
o Rejected by Catholic Church
o How moral an act is depends on the situation
o A situationist enters into a dilemma with the rules and principles of his or her
community, however should be prepared to set them aside if love seems better
served doing so.
o However… WHAT IS THE MOST LOVING?... The biggest issue is that there will
always be a dispute as to what is the most loving action is, and what this
actually means in practice. Everyone is subjective and has their own
interpretations of different things- somebody could see one thing as loving
and another person may object. If two people using this system of ethics
came to opposite conclusions as to what they should do, there is no way there
dilemma could be solved because it rejects the absolute rules that could guide
their actions.
o Situationists are more interested in loving people than loving laws
o KARL BARTH- thought it was okay to break some moral laws
o BONHOEFFER- thought that a situation should be dependent only on the need of
ones neighbour and the model of Jesus. Everything else is situational.
o HIS VIEW DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEW TESTAMENT...on morality, the New
testament appears to have clear moral views on theft and adultery, 'thou shall
not steal', 'thou shall not commit adultery' the commandments- these
