3.1.5

Situation Ethics

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Situation Ethics

Joseph Fletcher

Joseph Fletcher

  • Joseph Fletcher was an American professor who founded the theory of Situation Ethics in the 1960s.
    • He was a Christian priest who later declared himself to be an atheist and a humanist.
  • Situation Ethics states that generally, we ought to follow laws. However, individuals should be free to make the right choice in each situation.
  • Fletcher quoted a St Louis cab driver who said, “Sometimes you’ve gotta put your principles to one side and do the right thing”.
  • Rules (or principles) aren’t always the same thing as doing what is right.
Main principle: Agape love

Main principle: Agape love

  • The main principle of Situation Ethics is agape love.
  • Agape love is inspired by Jesus’ selflessness. At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached the importance of love above all else. He believed people should be slow to condemn others.
  • We should “consider our neighbour’s best interest with a careful eye on all factors in the situation” (Fletcher).
The most loving thing

The most loving thing

  • Situation Ethics teaches that anyone making a moral decision should always ask what would be the most loving thing to do.
    • Fletcher believed morality should also accept that the most loving thing could vary from situation to situation.
  • Fletcher wanted a moral code that benefits people.
    • So the goodness of an action depends on a good outcome. Rather than goodness being about obeying rules.
Working Principle: Pragmatism

Working Principle: Pragmatism

  • The correct action must be one that works best in practice.
    • Example: In 2000, conjoined twins Gracie and Rose were born in Manchester. Due to religious views, their parents did not want the babies to be separated, even though that would likely mean both would die. The doctors wanted the babies to be separated so one of them would live.
    • The UK court ruled for the separation, which is a pragmatic view.
Working Principles: Personalism & Relativism

Working Principles: Personalism & Relativism

  • Personalism: Must put the best interests of people before the rules.
  • Relativism: Rules don’t always apply. Rules depend on the situation.
    • Example: Fletcher was generally opposed to abortion but believed it was acceptable in some situations.
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1

Year 7

1.1

Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.1.1Genesis1.1.2Noah & the Flood1.1.3The Importance of Noah1.1.4Abraham1.1.5The Covenant1.1.6Abraham's Sacrifice1.1.7Ibrahim's Sacrifice1.1.8Ibrahim & Hajar1.1.9Ibrahim & the Ka'aba1.1.10Isaac & Jacob1.1.11Moses & the Exodus1.1.12The Tabernacle1.1.13Leviticus & Sacrifice1.1.14Teachings in Leviticus1.1.15Jesus' Teachings1.1.16Jesus the Rebel1.1.17Jesus' Death & Resurrection1.1.18The Meaning of Jesus' Sacrifice1.1.19The Relationship Between Judaism & Christianity1.1.20The Ka'aba1.1.21The Prophet Muhammad
1.2

Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God1.2.2Creation1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?1.2.4Moses1.2.5Abraham & Moses1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate1.2.11Orthodox Judaism1.2.12Reform Judaism1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law1.2.18Afterlife1.2.19The First Temple1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues1.2.22The Daily Service1.2.23What is Shabbat?1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat1.2.25What is Pesach?1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History1.2.29The Black Death1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 21.2.32The Holocaust1.2.33Genocide1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity1.2.35Holocaust Memorial1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews1.2.37Jewish Practices1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals
1.3

Christianity

1.3.1The Nature of God1.3.2Creation1.3.3Roots in Judaism1.3.4Early Spread of the Faith1.3.5Roman Persecution1.3.6Morality & Living a Good Life1.3.7Afterlife1.3.8Prayer and Acts of Worship1.3.9Kinds of Prayer1.3.10The Nativity1.3.11Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus1.3.12Jesus' Ministry1.3.13The Sermon on the Mount1.3.14The Crucifixion1.3.15The Last Supper1.3.16The Resurrection1.3.17Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection1.3.18The Council of Nicaea1.3.19The Nicene Creed1.3.20Saint Augustine1.3.21Development of the Christian Church1.3.22Written Authority - The Bible1.3.23Interpretation of the Bible1.3.24Celebrations1.3.25Pilgrimage1.3.26Evangelism1.3.27Protestantism1.3.28The Reformation1.3.29Christianity Today1.3.30Faith Across the World1.3.31Evangelical Churches1.3.32The Future of Christianity
1.4

Disciplinary Knowledge

1.4.1Scripture and Religious Authority1.4.2Interpreting Data1.4.3Forms of Expression1.4.4Shaping and Being Shaped by Wider Society
2

Year 8

2.1

Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split2.1.6Islamic Caliphates2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam2.1.8Origins of Hajj2.1.9Hajj Rituals2.1.10Jihad2.1.11Islam Today
2.2

Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.2.1The Origins of Hindu Dharma2.2.2The Vedic Traditions2.2.3The Term 'Hinduism'2.2.4Revelation & Tradition2.2.5The Vedas2.2.6The Bhagavad Gita2.2.7Brahman2.2.8Atman2.2.9Understanding the Self2.2.10Hindu Deities2.2.11The Nature of the Trimurti2.2.12Cyclical Nature2.2.13Karma2.2.14Santana Dharma & Varnashrama Dharma2.2.15Varna & Castes2.2.16Ahimsa2.2.17Mandir & Puja2.2.18Ramayana & Diwali2.2.19Namakarana & Birth Rituals2.2.20Hindu Funerals2.2.21Hindu Communities Across the World2.2.22Yoga2.2.23Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire2.2.24British Colonialism & Gandhi
2.3

Buddhism

2.3.1Roots in Hindu Dharma2.3.2Siddhartha Gautama2.3.3Siddhartha's Four Sights2.3.4Asceticism, Enlightenment & The Middle Way2.3.5Buddha's Authority & Personal Experience2.3.6Core Belief2.3.7The Three Marks of Existence2.3.8Cyclical Time2.3.9The Four Noble Truths - Dukkha and Samudaya2.3.10The Four Noble Truths - Nirhoda and Magga2.3.11The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment2.3.12Karma, Samsara & Nirvana2.3.13The Three Jewels2.3.14The Five Precepts2.3.15Meditation2.3.16Theravada & Mahayana Buddhisms2.3.17Puja2.3.18Buddhism in the UK and Across the World
2.4

Sikhi

2.4.1Origins of Sikhi2.4.2The Ten Sikh Gurus2.4.3The Guru Granth Sahib2.4.4Waheguru2.4.5The Sikh Concept of God2.4.6Creation of the Universe2.4.7The Khalsa2.4.8Sewa2.4.9Samsara & Mukti2.4.10The Gurdwara & the Langar2.4.11Different Interpretations2.4.12Sikhi Across the World
2.5

Atheism

2.5.1Where Did Atheism Come From?2.5.2The Impact of Scientific Developments2.5.3Plato's Cave2.5.4Challenging the Bible2.5.5The Enlightenment2.5.6Evolution2.5.7Evolution & Religion2.5.8Morality & God2.5.9Morality Without God2.5.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion2.5.11Militant Atheism2.5.12Humanism2.5.13The Future of Atheism
2.6

Philosophy of Religion

2.6.1Who is God?2.6.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics2.6.3Faith & Empiricism2.6.4The Design Argument2.6.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?2.6.6The Cosmological Argument2.6.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument2.6.8The Problem of Evil2.6.9Free Will Theodicy2.6.10Soul-Making Theodicy2.6.11Religious Experience2.6.12Types of Religious Experience2.6.13Criticisms of Religious Experience
2.7

Disciplinary Knowledge

2.7.1Theology2.7.2Social Sciences2.7.3Changing Roles of Men & Women2.7.4Divorce & Remarriage in the Church of England
3

Year 9

3.1

Introduction to Ethics

3.1.1The Trolley Problem3.1.2R v Dudley & Stevens3.1.3St Thomas Aquinas & Natural Moral Law3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Moral Law3.1.5Situation Ethics3.1.6Criticisms of Situation Ethics3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics3.1.8Revelation as a Source of Morality3.1.9Humanist Morality3.1.10Utilitarianism3.1.11Criticisms & Strengths of Utilitarianism
3.2

Life & Death

3.2.1Sanctity of Life3.2.2Quality of Life3.2.3Abortion3.2.4Moral Questions About Abortion3.2.5Euthanasia3.2.6Moral Questions About Euthanasia3.2.7Capital Punishment3.2.8Arguments Against Captial Punishment3.2.9Animal Rights3.2.10Alternative Views on Animal Rights
3.3

Extremism

3.3.1What Does Extremism Mean?3.3.2Extremism Explained3.3.3Why do People Become Extremists?3.3.4Why do People Become Extremists? 23.3.5What are Conspiracy Theories?3.3.6Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?3.3.7What is Anti-Semitism?3.3.8Anti-Semitic Stereotyping3.3.9The Holocaust3.3.10After the Holocaust3.3.11Religious Fundamentalism3.3.12The Problem of Fundamentalism3.3.13Nationalism3.3.14Nationalism & Extremism3.3.15What is a Terrorist?3.3.16Political & Religious Terrorism3.3.17Free Speech & Hate Speech3.3.18Hate Speech3.3.19How do we Fight Extremism?3.3.20How do we Fight Extremism? 2
3.4

Equality

3.4.1Introduction to Equality3.4.2Is the UK an Equal Society?3.4.3Religion & Equality3.4.4Interpreting the Scripture3.4.5Racism & Scripture3.4.6Scripture Against Racism3.4.7The Fight for Racial Equality3.4.8Gender Equality & Scripture3.4.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship3.4.10LGBTQ+ Matters3.4.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality3.4.12Disability Matters3.4.13The Fight for Disability Equality
4

Additional Concepts

4.1

Non-Religious People in the UK

4.1.1Statistics & Reasons4.1.2Main Tenets on Non-Religious People4.1.3Allegations Against Religious People
4.2

Believing in God Oustide of Religion

4.2.1Non-Religious Believers & New Age4.2.2Stay-At-Home Christians4.2.3Agnosticism

Practice questions on Situation Ethics

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Select the correct statement for each pair.True / false
  2. 2
    Why did Fletcher think people should sometimes ignore rules?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What did the court's ruling in the case of conjoined twins Gracie and Rose show about Situation Ethics?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What does agape love mean in Situation Ethics?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What does personalism say you should do when a rule clashes with someone's wellbeing?Multiple choice
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Criticisms of Natural Moral Law

Criticisms of Situation Ethics