Situation ethics is a normative ethical theory developed by Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s. It holds that the only intrinsically good thing is love, and that moral decisions should be made based on the situation by considering what decision best displays love. Situation ethics rejects both legalistic ethics, which bases morality on fixed rules, and antinomian ethics, which rejects all rules. Instead, situation ethics allows that established moral rules may be set aside if following love requires a different action. Strengths include flexibility, but weaknesses include the difficulty determining consequences and potential for justifying harmful actions.

1. Situation EthicsSituation Ethics
Aim: to know the theory ofAim: to know the theory of
situation ethics and to know thesituation ethics and to know the
key terms related to this topic.key terms related to this topic.

2. ““The morality of an action dependsThe morality of an action depends
on the situation”.on the situation”.
Joseph Fletcher (1963)Joseph Fletcher (1963)

3. Key QuestionsKey Questions
•What does it mean for an action to beWhat does it mean for an action to be
loving?loving?
•How might love be defined?How might love be defined?

4. Key QuestionsKey Questions
1.1. Is moral behaviour about following rules orIs moral behaviour about following rules or
working things out for ourselves?working things out for ourselves?
2.2. Are there unbreakable laws to govern moralAre there unbreakable laws to govern moral
behaviour, or should we make our own moralbehaviour, or should we make our own moral
decisions?decisions?
3.3. Is abortion for health reasons just as bad asIs abortion for health reasons just as bad as
abortion for convenience?abortion for convenience?
4.4. Are there ever any situations when you shouldAre there ever any situations when you should
ignore established moral rules?ignore established moral rules?
5.5. When deciding what is right, should theWhen deciding what is right, should the
situation be taken into account?situation be taken into account?

5. Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991)Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991)
 He was an American professor whoHe was an American professor who
founded the theory of Situation ethics infounded the theory of Situation ethics in
the 1960s.the 1960s.
 He was a pioneer in bioethics and wasHe was a pioneer in bioethics and was
involved in the areas of abortion,involved in the areas of abortion,
infanticide, euthanasia and cloning.infanticide, euthanasia and cloning.
 He was a priest who later renounced hisHe was a priest who later renounced his
belief in God and became an atheist.belief in God and became an atheist.

6. TaskTask
 A rich man asked a lovely young woman if sheA rich man asked a lovely young woman if she
would sleep the night with him. She saidwould sleep the night with him. She said ‘No’.‘No’.
He then asked if she would do it forHe then asked if she would do it for £100 000.£100 000.
She said ‘Yes!’She said ‘Yes!’
1.1. Is it wrong to have sex for money:Is it wrong to have sex for money:
a)a) To survive?To survive?
b)b) For luxury purchases?For luxury purchases?
c)c) To fund a life-saving operation for a friend orTo fund a life-saving operation for a friend or
relative?relative?
In each case, explain your answer.In each case, explain your answer.
2.2. Why might your answers for a, b and c differ?Why might your answers for a, b and c differ?

7. Key TermsKey Terms
 Agapé loveAgapé love
 Antinomian ethicsAntinomian ethics
 ConscienceConscience
 Four workingFour working
principlesprinciples
 IndividualisticIndividualistic
 Intrinsically goodIntrinsically good
 justicejustice
 Law of loveLaw of love
 Legalistic ethicsLegalistic ethics
 PersonalismPersonalism
 PositivismPositivism
 PragmatismPragmatism
 PrescriptivePrescriptive
 ProportionalismProportionalism
 RelativismRelativism

8. The Theory of Situation EthicsThe Theory of Situation Ethics
 Fletcher maintains that there areFletcher maintains that there are
essentially three different ways ofessentially three different ways of
making moral decisions.making moral decisions.
1.1. Legalistic ethicsLegalistic ethics
2.2. Antinomian ethicsAntinomian ethics
3.3. Situation ethicsSituation ethics

9. 3 kinds of ethical theory3 kinds of ethical theory
Legalistic
Ethics
Antinomian
ethics
Extrinsic
Not part of the
essential nature of
someone or
something; coming or
operating from
outside
An ethical system
that contains rules for
every situation
and/or the
association of doing
good with simply
following those rules
The view that there
are no moral
principles or rules at
all

10. Legalistic EthicsLegalistic Ethics
 Has a set of moral rules and regulations.Has a set of moral rules and regulations.
 Judaism and Christianity both have legalisticJudaism and Christianity both have legalistic
ethical traditions.ethical traditions.
 Fletcher said this runs into problems – lifeFletcher said this runs into problems – life’s’s
complexities require additional laws. Murder,complexities require additional laws. Murder,
killing in self defence, killing in war, killingkilling in self defence, killing in war, killing
unborn human beings etc.unborn human beings etc.
 Becomes complex and like a textbook moralityBecomes complex and like a textbook morality
that leaves people simply to check the manual tothat leaves people simply to check the manual to
decide what is right and wrong.decide what is right and wrong.

11. Antinomian EthicsAntinomian Ethics
 The reverse of legalistic ethics.The reverse of legalistic ethics.
 It literally meansIt literally means ‘against law’.‘against law’.
 A person usingA person using antinomianismantinomianism doesndoesn’t really’t really
use an ethical system at all.use an ethical system at all.
 He or she enters decision-making as if eachHe or she enters decision-making as if each
occasion was totally unique. Making a moraloccasion was totally unique. Making a moral
decision is a matter of spontaneity.decision is a matter of spontaneity.
 ‘‘They are, exactly anarchic – i.e. without a rule’.They are, exactly anarchic – i.e. without a rule’.
 Fletcher is also critical of this approach.Fletcher is also critical of this approach.

12. Situation EthicsSituation Ethics
 One single rule – the rule ofOne single rule – the rule of agapeagape. This love is. This love is
not merely an emotion but involves doing what isnot merely an emotion but involves doing what is
best for the other person, unconditionally.best for the other person, unconditionally.

13. Situation EthicsSituation Ethics
 The situationist enters into the moralThe situationist enters into the moral
dilemma with the principles and rules ofdilemma with the principles and rules of
his or her community.his or her community.
 However, they are prepared to set theseHowever, they are prepared to set these
rules aside in the situation if LOVE seemsrules aside in the situation if LOVE seems
better served by doing so.better served by doing so.

14. Situation EthicsSituation Ethics
 ‘‘The situationist follows a moral law or violates itThe situationist follows a moral law or violates it
according to love’s need’.according to love’s need’.
FletcherFletcher
 For the situationist, all moral decisions areFor the situationist, all moral decisions are
hypothetical. They depend on what best serveshypothetical. They depend on what best serves
love.love.
 They donThey don’t say that ‘giving to charity is a good’t say that ‘giving to charity is a good
thing’. They only say that giving to charity is athing’. They only say that giving to charity is a
good thing if …’good thing if …’
 Lying is justified if love is better served by it.Lying is justified if love is better served by it.

15. An insane murderer who asks youAn insane murderer who asks you
the whereabouts of his nextthe whereabouts of his next
victim…victim…
 Should be lied to! AShould be lied to! A situationistsituationist wouldwould
be able to do this.be able to do this.
 In that situation, aIn that situation, a legalistlegalist must tell themust tell the
truth.truth.

16. TaskTask
 A teenage girl has become pregnant as aA teenage girl has become pregnant as a
result of being raped by a close familyresult of being raped by a close family
member. Shemember. She’s very poor and very young.’s very poor and very young.
How would legalists, antinomians andHow would legalists, antinomians and
situationists go about considering what thesituationists go about considering what the
moral thing to do is?moral thing to do is?

17. Situation EthicsSituation Ethics
 Situation ethics is sensitive to variety andSituation ethics is sensitive to variety and
complexity. It uses principles tocomplexity. It uses principles to
illuminate the situation, but not to directilluminate the situation, but not to direct
the action.the action.
 Fletcher divides his principles into twoFletcher divides his principles into two
categories:categories:
1.1. TheThe four working principlesfour working principles andand
2.2. TheThe six fundamental principlessix fundamental principles

18. The Four Working Principles andThe Four Working Principles and
the Six Fundamental Principlesthe Six Fundamental Principles

19. Four Working PrinciplesFour Working Principles
 PragmatismPragmatism
 RelativismRelativism
 PositivismPositivism
 PersonalismPersonalism

20. Six Fundamental PrinciplesSix Fundamental Principles
 Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love:Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love:
nothing else at all.nothing else at all.
 The ruling norm of Christian Decision is love:The ruling norm of Christian Decision is love:
nothing else.nothing else.
 Love and Justice are the same, for love is justiceLove and Justice are the same, for love is justice
distributed, nothing else.distributed, nothing else.
 Love wills the neighbourLove wills the neighbour’’s good, whether we likes good, whether we like
him or not.him or not.
 Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.Only the end justifies the means, nothing else.
 LoveLove’’s decisions are made situationally, nots decisions are made situationally, not
prescriptively.prescriptively.

21. Evaluating Situation EthicsEvaluating Situation Ethics
 StrengthsStrengths  WeaknessesWeaknesses

22. Strengths of Situation EthicsStrengths of Situation Ethics
 Many would welcome the flexibility ofMany would welcome the flexibility of
Situation Ethics. It seems less rigid thanSituation Ethics. It seems less rigid than
other ethical theories.other ethical theories.
 It requires very little (if any) theologicalIt requires very little (if any) theological
assumptions – it in some ways suits ourassumptions – it in some ways suits our
multicultural, multi-faith age.multicultural, multi-faith age.
 It is practical. It does not too demandingIt is practical. It does not too demanding
on those who would follow it.on those who would follow it.

23. Weaknesses of Situation EthicsWeaknesses of Situation Ethics
 It is not easy to determine all theIt is not easy to determine all the
consequences of an action.consequences of an action.
 ThereThere’’s a danger that the ideals ofs a danger that the ideals of
unconditional love may be polluted by aunconditional love may be polluted by a
selfish human tendency.selfish human tendency.
 It seems at least possible that SituationIt seems at least possible that Situation
Ethics could be used to justify all kinds ofEthics could be used to justify all kinds of
actions that are simply inexcusable.actions that are simply inexcusable.
Genocide, child abuse?Genocide, child abuse?

24. Exam QuestionExam Question
 (a)(a) How might a Situation EthicistHow might a Situation Ethicist
respond to the claim that people shouldrespond to the claim that people should
always tellalways tell
 the truth?the truth? [33][33]
 (b)(b) Assess the strengths and weaknessesAssess the strengths and weaknesses
of Situation ethics.of Situation ethics. [17][17]
 You will haveYou will have 30 minutes30 minutes to answer thisto answer this
question in the January exam. Deadlinequestion in the January exam. Deadline
16/10/06 (Next Monday)16/10/06 (Next Monday)