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Situation ethics (The six Propositions., Different types of love, The 4…
Situation ethics
The six Propositions.
FIRST - 'Only one thin is intrinsically good; namely love : nothing else at all'
Only love is good in and of itself. Actions aren't intrinsically good or evil. They always form a chain of cause and effect. They are good or evil depending upon whether they promote the most loving result.
SECOND - 'The ruling norm of christian decision is love. Nothing else'
Jesus replaced the Torah with the principle of love. For example, his decision to work on the sabbath. Fletcher argues the commandments are not absolute. Jesus broke them when love demanded it. Love replaces law.
THIRD - 'Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed. Nothing else'
Justice is love at work in the whole community. Love takes everything into account, it's not partial. This sometimes means calculating. When a doctor has to decide between two patients and which one to give the last unit of blood plasma too. Preferring a mother of three rather than a convicted murderer. this is not sentimental love but it's calculating, preferential love.
FOURTH - 'Love wills the neighbours good, whether we like him or not'.
Love is not a matter of feeling but attitude.
Agape - even if we don't like someone we still love them
FIFTH - 'Only the end justifies the the means; nothing else'
Don't worry about the means - if it's good. The end must be the most loving result. Love is goal or end or the act and that justifies any means to achieve that goal.
SIXTH - 'Loves decisions are made situationally not prescriptively' This means that love decides on each situation as it arises, without a set of laws to guide it. Whether something is right or wrong depends on the situation
Different types of love
Agape - Charity, unconditional love. The greatest of all 'loves'
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Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths -
-Agape love is a good principle, we should love everyone and do whatever the most living thing is. Saves us from personal bias.
-It enables us to answer difficult moral dilemmas.
-its flexible
-Gives people responsibility
-People centred
Weaknesses -
CRITICISM OF FLEXIBILITY - Agape is vague/ It's not a good set of rules if they are flexible.
How far do you calculate Agape?
Love is subjective. We all see it differently.
Not possible to apply to society.
May disregard human rights - Similar to utilitarianism
No boundaries
-Can't predict outcomes
-Are people 'up to' moral responsibility - damaged by the fall.
Strengths + Weaknesses
Strengths -
-Agape love is a good principle, love everyone + do whatever the most loving thing is.
-Saves us from personal bias.
-Flexible
-Give people responsibility
-People centred
Weaknesses -
-Agape is vague
-How far do you calculate Agape
-Too flexible - are we capable of making big decisions
-Love is subjective
-Not possible to apply to society
Developing arguments
Strength - Situation ethics is person centered - Whereas legalistic systems such as natural law focus on obedience to rules, situation ethics start with the question what will work for and be of benefit to the person involved.
Criticism - However the focus on there being no absolutes means that there can be no real idea of 'rights' in situations ethics. This means that in some situations, some persons will be disregarded for the greater good.
Strengths - Situation ethics gives humans the moral responsibility for the decisions they make. We are not given rules, we are asked to reason about how love should be applied. The idea that conscience is a verb and not a noun supports this.
Criticism - Whilst it may seem good in theory that the power is given to the person making the decision, it is wrong t assume that we all sufficient expertise to reason on the best outcome particularly as the idea of agape is hard to apply in some cases.
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Fletcher's views - Natural law is guilty of excessive legalism/too many rules
Antinomianism - No laws - can lead to anarchy.
Situationism is taking the principles of your community + using them to illuminate situations. know when to apply to principle + when to recognise exceptions.