R.E Essay Situation Ethics
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES OF SITUATION ETHICS
PARAGRAPHS PRODUCED BY 12D (MARCH 2011)
INTRODUCTION
‘Love and do what you want’ Augustine Inspired by Christian teachings on agape love, Joseph put forward Situation ethics in the 1960’s. Fletcher attempted to reconcile the strict legalist (binding rules) nature of the church with the antinomian (no rules apply) attitudes of an ever changing secular society.
STRENGTHS
One key strength of Situation Ethics is that it puts people before rules; personalism. As Jesus said, ‘Sabbath was made for man not man for Sabbath’ meaning that Sabbath should be a time for man rather than just to follow strict rules. This is important as it prevents people being forced into following rules. Also the fact that people come first is something that most people would agree with and find preferential. This gives an override option for situations where rules do not seem appropriate. For example the case of the 13 year old girl in Brazil who was repeatedly abused and eventually raped by her stepfather, and she fell pregnant. She and her family were strict Catholics, as was their doctor, however they all agreed it was best to ignore the religious principle of not having an abortion, even though it caused them to be excommunicated; they acted out of love for the young girl.
One of the main strengths of Situation ethics is that it is teleological meaning that an action can change depending on the situation rather than being the same every time (as teleological refers to relative morality). Teleological is concerned with the ‘telos’ – end – of an action: its consequences. Fletcher argues that the consequences are the most important feature of an action, seeing as it is what actually affects people. The action itself is deemed unimportant, as long as it brings about the most loving outcome. Fletcher given the example of Mrs.Bergermire, who deliberately becomes pregnant with a man who was not her husband in order that she could be
PARAGRAPHS PRODUCED BY 12D (MARCH 2011)
INTRODUCTION
‘Love and do what you want’ Augustine Inspired by Christian teachings on agape love, Joseph put forward Situation ethics in the 1960’s. Fletcher attempted to reconcile the strict legalist (binding rules) nature of the church with the antinomian (no rules apply) attitudes of an ever changing secular society.
STRENGTHS
One key strength of Situation Ethics is that it puts people before rules; personalism. As Jesus said, ‘Sabbath was made for man not man for Sabbath’ meaning that Sabbath should be a time for man rather than just to follow strict rules. This is important as it prevents people being forced into following rules. Also the fact that people come first is something that most people would agree with and find preferential. This gives an override option for situations where rules do not seem appropriate. For example the case of the 13 year old girl in Brazil who was repeatedly abused and eventually raped by her stepfather, and she fell pregnant. She and her family were strict Catholics, as was their doctor, however they all agreed it was best to ignore the religious principle of not having an abortion, even though it caused them to be excommunicated; they acted out of love for the young girl.
One of the main strengths of Situation ethics is that it is teleological meaning that an action can change depending on the situation rather than being the same every time (as teleological refers to relative morality). Teleological is concerned with the ‘telos’ – end – of an action: its consequences. Fletcher argues that the consequences are the most important feature of an action, seeing as it is what actually affects people. The action itself is deemed unimportant, as long as it brings about the most loving outcome. Fletcher given the example of Mrs.Bergermire, who deliberately becomes pregnant with a man who was not her husband in order that she could be