Examine The Key Features Of Situation Ethics (21 Marks)

Situation ethics is an ethical theory pioneered by Joseph Fletcher in the 1960's, a time in which society and the church were facing drastic change. It is an idealistic, teleological, consequentialist theory that resolves ethical and moral issues relative to the situation. In contrast to utilitarianism, Situation ethics is based on Christian principles and primarily the promotion of agape. Fletcher's liberal, less rule based theory is based on one absolute law, which when applied properly, handles every situation. Subsequently, Fletcher rejects the deontological view of 'right and wrong' decisions in a situation and believes that ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules. Situation ethics developed in the 1960's, a time of social, cultural and moral change in the Western countries. After the Second World War, the post war generation threw off the shackles of paternalism, authority plus the law and government. Sexual liberation advanced as methods of contraception became freely available and more reliable. The introduction of the contraceptive pill allowed women to express their new individualism and freedom. Many people began to turn away from the church and blamed factors such as "Greater independence; more money.the weakening of family bonds and religious influences; the development of earlier maturity, physically, emotionally and mentally; the impact of modern books, television and periodicals" (Sex and Morality, SCM). The world was becoming more secular and Fletcher's theory attempted to divert such secularism. Situation ethics moved with the times hence its popularity and success. The theory did not conform to traditional Christian beliefs that people should abide by a set of entrenched rules however advised people to act according to each situation in the name of agape and selflessness.

Fletcher posits his situational absolutism with its one law for everything by saying we must enter every situation with only one moral weapon - the law of agape love. Agape is defined as a selfless type of love, tolerant and respectful towards all people. For Christians, agape is God's love: perfect, total, unconditional and eternal. We act out of love for others, trying to do the best to serve their interests. Situation ethics states that decision making should be based upon the circumstances of the particular situation, not upon fixed law. The only absolute is Love. Love should be the motive behind every decision. As long as love is your intention, the end justifies the means. Fletcher uses Jesus as the model of agape as portrayed in John 15:13 'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends'.

Fletcher's ethical theory is based upon ten principles which are split into four main presuppositions and 6 fundamental principles. Four things were assumed prior to Fletcher setting out Situation Ethics and these are the four presuppositions: Pragmatism, Relativism, Positivism and Personalism. Pragmatism states that a proposed course of action should be practical and work, its success or failure should also be judged according to principle. Relativism rejects absolutes such as 'never', 'always' and 'perfect', these absolutes should become relative to love for example 'do not steal' - if love demands stealing food for the hungry, you should steal. Positivism recognises that love is the most important criterion of all expressed in the teaching of 1 John 4: 7-12 'Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God'. Personalism demands people to be put first. Fletcher emphasised that ethics deals with human relations and therefore people should be put at the centre.

There are six fundamental principles that underlie Fletcher's Situation Ethics, the first being 'Love only is always good'. This means that there is no action or moral rule that is good in itself; an action is good so far as it brings about agape. The second principle is 'Love is the only norm' Fletcher understood a norm to be a rule and appealed to Jesus' teaching in Mark 12:33 that the most important commandment is to love God and love your neighbour. He did allow that some rules may be useful e.g. the Decalogue however in cases of dispute, love should be the decider. The third principle is 'Love and justice are the same', there can be no love with justice. Consider any type of injustice - a child starving, a man being punished when he is innocent; these are examples of a lack of love. If love was properly shared out, there would be no injustice. The fourth principle is 'Love is the only means', Fletcher's theory is a teleological theory that identifies the ends or the outcome of action as the means of assessing its moral worth. In this case, it suggests that anything might be done if it brings about the most loving outcome. The fifth principle is 'Love is not liking', as agape was not an emotion, it did not need to encompass liking. Because agape involves sacrifice people should give love without expecting a return and irrespective of how they feel about others. The final principle is 'Love decides there and then', there are no rules about what should or should not be done - in each situation, you decide there and then what the most loving thing to do is.

Fletcher postulated that there were three kinds of ethical theories: Legalistic, Antinomian and Situational. Legalism is a conservative rule based morality, like that of the Pharisees ''Solutions are preset, and you can look them up in a book - a Bible or a confessor's manual" (Situation Ethics, 1966). Antinomianism is the polar opposite to legalism. No rules or maxims can be applied to a moral situation, rather 'in every existential moment or unique situation. one must rely on the situation itself, then and there, to provide its ethical solution'. Situationism is the 3rd approach, a midway between the two other positions. 'The situationist enters into every decision making situation fully armed with the ethical maxims of his community and its heritage, and he treats them with respect. Just the same he is prepared in any situation to compromise them or set aside in the situation if love seems better served by doing so'. J.A.T Robinson, a New Testament scholar, stated that Situation ethics was the only ethic for 'man come of age'.