1. Situation ethics lesson 2
Outcomes:
Recap Robinsons theory
Explain Fletchers situation ethics
Compare and contrast situation ethics with utilitarianism

2. J A T Robinson Who was he? What was his theory known as?
What did he say in his theory?
What was the most important part of his theory?
Would he agree with divorce?

3. Application to divorce
It is important to know his view on divorce
He rejected the traditional view that divorce was immoral and impossible in gods eyes because it constitutes a super natural bond
He felt this view was outdated and should be rejected
He said one should use agape in the case of divorce

4. Joseph Fletcher
Sometimes you have to put your principles to one side and do the right thing. Do you agree?
“The morality of an action depends on the situation”
He wrote about situation ethics after Robinson, in his book Situation Ethics (1966)
The background/ situation of the time was a huge influence on his theory the same as Robinson
Sometimes you have to put your principles to one side and do the right thing.

5. Joesph Fletcher Maxim : a general truth or rule of conduct
Fletcher identified three approaches to morality
Legalism
Situationism
Antinomianism
MORAL EXTREME
Middle ground
MORAL EXTREME
Fletcher argues that situation ethics is not anitnomianism because individuals have ‘the ethical maxims of his community and its heritage’ to draw on. It does not become legalism because these maxims can be abandoned if agape is better shown another way.
The view that there are no moral laws or rules. People should act spontaneously in each situation to decide what is right.
The view that morality should be based on laws or commands that must always be followed

6. Presuppositions: something tactically assumed before a course of action
Four presuppositions
Pragmatism – moral actions must work or achieve some realistic goal.
Relativism – there are no fixed laws which must always be obeyed.
Positivism – first place is given to Christian love, rooted in faith.
Personalism – people come first, not rules or ideals.

7. 1. Love only is always good
2. Love is the only norm
Jesus and St Paul replaced the Torah with the principle of love, in the past Christians have broken the 10 Commandments in order to do the right thing e.g. Bonhoeffer tried to kill Hitler
1. Love only is always good
Actions are only good if they help humans (showing love for one another) and they are bad if they hurt people.
6. Love decides there and then
Whether something is right or wrong depends on the situation and can’t be pre-determined
The 6
Fundamental
Principles
3. Love and justice are the same, and love is justice distributed
Love and justice can not be separated.
5. Love is the only means
When weighing up a situation, one must consider what you want the outcome to be and what you need to do to get there. Fletcher said the end must be the most loving thing
4. Love wills the neighbour's good, whether we like him or not.
Your neighbour is anybody and agape love goes out to everyone

8. Application
Fletcher draws on many examples in his writing, some fiction others real.
He does this to show following common moral rules does not always result in the most loving outcome, he thinks these examples prove that sometimes principles have to be abandoned.
Discuss the cases considering the questions.

9. Evidence for the need of situation ethics
Do you think these cases can be used as supporting evidence for the need of situation ethics?
Give reasons for your answer.
Can be seen as a strength of the theory.

10. Utilitarianism VS situation ethics
You will be put into one of the teams
You are to argue your theory is the best when it comes to moral decision making
Think about your strengths but also keep in mind what they may say are your weaknesses
Each group is to make an opening statement and then after that you are able to debate openly

11. Explain the concept of agape in situation ethics. 10