Situation Ethics

Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.1.5

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Test yourself on Situation Ethics

Select the correct statement for each pair.
Why did Fletcher think people should sometimes ignore rules?
What did the court's ruling in the case of conjoined twins Gracie and Rose show about Situation Ethics?
What does agape love mean in Situation Ethics?
What does personalism say you should do when a rule clashes with someone's wellbeing?