2: Situation Ethics
Joseph Fletcher Believed that the single absolute principle of love should be applied in each
situation to produce the best outcome. He drew on the ideas of William Temple
(Archbishop of Canterbury)
Legalism The belief that there are fixed moral rules which are universal and always to be
followed. It leads to putting rules before the person
Antinomianism The denial of the possibility of any rules. Rules and principles should be rejected
Agape Unconditional love shown by Jesus that transcends all personal feelings. The
basis for situation ethics. Fletcher's book is filled with referenced to the Bible and
thought but Christian faith is not required for situation ethics. Fletcher gave up his
Christian beliefs in later life but still stuck to his principles of situation ethics
4 Working Principles Pragmatism
Relativism
Positivism
Personalism
Pragmatism For a course of action to be right, it has to be practical. We should seek
practical, workable and realist solutions to problems
Personalism Situation Ethics puts people first. People are more important than rules. It requires
that we place people at the centre of all our moral considerations
Personalism Biblical David entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful
Example only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions who were
hungry and in need. One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and
as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The
Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the
Sabbath?". Jesus replied, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath" – suggesting that personal needs can be placed in front of rules
Positivism The belief in a higher good that is omnibenevolent. We can act in certainty if this
higher good would behave in the same way. You have to start with a positive
choice - you need to want to do good. It rejects the claim that reason can work
out the right course of action
Relativism The moral act should be relative to the needs of the person and the situation.
This means that rules (absolutes) don't always apply, they depend on the
situation.
6 Fundamental Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all
Principles The ruling norm of Christian decision in love
Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed
Love wills the neighbours good whether we like him or not
The end justifies the means
Love's decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively
'Only one 'thing' is Love is intrinsically valuable, it has inherent worth. Love is good. Nothing else has
intrinsically good; intrinsic value but 'it gains or acquires its value only because it happens to help
namely, love: nothing persons (thus being good) or to hurt persons (thus being bad)'. A lie is not
else at all' intrinsically wrong. It is wrong if it harms people, but may sometimes be right.
'The ruling norm of Love replaces the law. The law should only be obeyed in the interests of love,
Christian decision is not for the law's sake! Fletcher rejects Natural Law. He says 'There are no
love: nothing else' [natural] universal laws held by all men everywhere at all times.' Jesus
summarized the entire law by saying 'Love God' and 'Love your neighbour'. Love
is the only law.
"Love and justice are There can be no love without justice. If love was properly shared out, there
the same, for justice is would be no injustice.
love distributed,
nothing else."
"Love wills the Christian love is a non-selfish love of all people and is unaffected by your
neighbor's good personal opinions about people.
whether we like him or
not."
"Only the end justifies If an action causes harm, it is wrong. If good comes of it, it is right. Fletcher says
the means; nothing you can't claim to be right by following a rule (like 'Do not lie') knowing it will
else" cause great harm. Only the end or outcome can justify your action
Joseph Fletcher Believed that the single absolute principle of love should be applied in each
situation to produce the best outcome. He drew on the ideas of William Temple
(Archbishop of Canterbury)
Legalism The belief that there are fixed moral rules which are universal and always to be
followed. It leads to putting rules before the person
Antinomianism The denial of the possibility of any rules. Rules and principles should be rejected
Agape Unconditional love shown by Jesus that transcends all personal feelings. The
basis for situation ethics. Fletcher's book is filled with referenced to the Bible and
thought but Christian faith is not required for situation ethics. Fletcher gave up his
Christian beliefs in later life but still stuck to his principles of situation ethics
4 Working Principles Pragmatism
Relativism
Positivism
Personalism
Pragmatism For a course of action to be right, it has to be practical. We should seek
practical, workable and realist solutions to problems
Personalism Situation Ethics puts people first. People are more important than rules. It requires
that we place people at the centre of all our moral considerations
Personalism Biblical David entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful
Example only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions who were
hungry and in need. One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and
as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The
Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the
Sabbath?". Jesus replied, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath" – suggesting that personal needs can be placed in front of rules
Positivism The belief in a higher good that is omnibenevolent. We can act in certainty if this
higher good would behave in the same way. You have to start with a positive
choice - you need to want to do good. It rejects the claim that reason can work
out the right course of action
Relativism The moral act should be relative to the needs of the person and the situation.
This means that rules (absolutes) don't always apply, they depend on the
situation.
6 Fundamental Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all
Principles The ruling norm of Christian decision in love
Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed
Love wills the neighbours good whether we like him or not
The end justifies the means
Love's decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively
'Only one 'thing' is Love is intrinsically valuable, it has inherent worth. Love is good. Nothing else has
intrinsically good; intrinsic value but 'it gains or acquires its value only because it happens to help
namely, love: nothing persons (thus being good) or to hurt persons (thus being bad)'. A lie is not
else at all' intrinsically wrong. It is wrong if it harms people, but may sometimes be right.
'The ruling norm of Love replaces the law. The law should only be obeyed in the interests of love,
Christian decision is not for the law's sake! Fletcher rejects Natural Law. He says 'There are no
love: nothing else' [natural] universal laws held by all men everywhere at all times.' Jesus
summarized the entire law by saying 'Love God' and 'Love your neighbour'. Love
is the only law.
"Love and justice are There can be no love without justice. If love was properly shared out, there
the same, for justice is would be no injustice.
love distributed,
nothing else."
"Love wills the Christian love is a non-selfish love of all people and is unaffected by your
neighbor's good personal opinions about people.
whether we like him or
not."
"Only the end justifies If an action causes harm, it is wrong. If good comes of it, it is right. Fletcher says
the means; nothing you can't claim to be right by following a rule (like 'Do not lie') knowing it will
else" cause great harm. Only the end or outcome can justify your action
