Situational ethics, social deception, and lessons of machiavelli 2004 deweys moral philosophy 2005, revised 2014 situational ethics explained, evaluated and applied an introduction to fletchers situational ethics from. It basically states that sometimes other moral principles can be cast aside in certain situations if love is best served. Using ancient philosophy to live a modern life by massimo pigliucci, eating animals by jonathan sa. Book by joseph fletcher there are times when man has to push his moral principles aside and do the right thing. In its new paperback form, this book is certain of continued attention in the current discussion of ethical problems. Fletcher developed his theory of situational ethics in his books. And, as a result, evangelicals wind up engaging in something they regularly criticize when others do it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. Situation ethics is the most promising road to a moral community. The bible and situation ethics are on different planes and operate on different channels. Proposing an ethic of loving concern, fletcher suggests that certain actssuch as lying, premarital sex, adultery, or even murdermight be morally right, depending on. The new morality library of theological ethics fletcher. His work, situation ethics, founded the modern situational ethics movement.
Check out our situational ethics essay ethics is a set of human behavior rules recognized in a community grouping or culture. Situation ethics flies under the banner of the new morality. The approach taken in this text, while specific to the aqa philosophy and ocr religious programs, would work quite well with lower levelintroductory ethics students, who have no background in philosophy. Introduction the late edward john carnell, in his book, an introduction to christian apologetics, began his chap. These two names are used interchangeably to designate this approach to morals. Furthermore, there are philosophical considerations that are left unresolved. Joseph fletcher, naturalism, situation ethics and value theory, in ethics at the crossroads, 1995 situation ethics was originally devised in a. Another term for situation ethics, ethics focused on the situation, rather than fixed rules. Heres a link to a page that describes situational ethics. Self driving car is heading down the road with one occupant but realises the brakes have failed there is a group of 5 people o. Book of proverbs weaknesses, gap between public and private morality like barclay. Situational ethics is problematic on college campuses. Although the term situational ethics only seems to appear in joseph fletchers book named situation ethics. Since then, almost every publication on situational ethics has referred to the model presented in fletchers writings.
Ethics is supposed to provide us with a guide for moral living, and to do so it must be rational, and to be rational it must be free of contradictions there is no room for situational ethics in business or in any area of your life for that matter. Situational ethics, or situation ethics, is a christian ethical theory that was principally developed in the 1960s by the episcopal priest joseph fletcher. Consistencythe absence of contradictionshas sometimes been called the hallmark of ethics. However, the book covers only 4 major ethical theories. Although his ideas were rooted in the bible they were new, and to some shocking. The moral principles fletcher is specifically referring to are. Of course, fletcher was by no means the first to advance the ideals of situationism. Situational ethics is a particular view of moral ethics that holds that the morality of an act is determined by its context. Situation ethics article another overview and explanation of fletchers situational ethics.
Situational ethics depends upon where you are coming from. His other book on this theme is moral responsibilitysituation ethics at work 25s. Situational ethics a philosophy which promotes the idea that, when dealing with a crisis, the end justifies the means and that a rigid interpretation of rules and laws can be set aside if a greater good or lesser evil is served by doing so. Because morality is of secondary importance to salvation, it becomes disposable. This is something that ai has been struggling with recently, in particular, with the use of self driving cars. Joseph fletcherin 1966 joseph fletcher, an american theologian, published a book, situation ethics, in which he outlines a new approach to christian ethical decision making. With the intent to have a fair basis for judgments or action, one looks to personal ideals of what is appropriate to guide them, rather than an unchanging universal code of conduct, such as biblical law under. This chapter presents the situational social influence explanation of organizational wrongdoing.
Situational ethics states that if there is a right and wrong, it is merely determined by the desired outcome of the situation. Situation ethics, the position that moral decision making is contextual or. The first is that the name new morality is really a misnomer. Situation ethics or the new morality sets aside the bible whenever man wants to and injects his own judgement in its place. Igniting a firestorm of controversy upon its publication in 1966, joseph fletchers situation ethics was hailed by many as a muchneeded reformation of moralityand as an invitation to anarchy by others. Fletchers situational ethics gained a popular following as it allowed the religious believer to fit their views into the rapidly changing and nuanced moral and political landscape of the 1960s. Situation ethics was most famously championed by joseph fletcher 19051991 he believed that we should follow the rules until we need to break them for reasons of love. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Study 15 terms situation ethics quotes flashcards quizlet.
Joseph fletcher was professor of social ethics at the episcopal theological school, cambridge, mass. Pg 158159 looking at this book from a fiftyyearslater viewpoint, one is perhaps most surprised to see how christianly fletchers approach originally wasparticularly in light of his later secularist and atheistic approach. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Fletcher was a professor of christian ethics at harvard university and then medical ethics at virginia university. Situation ethics holds that moral judgments must be made within the context of the entirety of a situation and that all normative features of a situation must be viewed as a whole. Situation ethics teaches that ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis. Commenting on the philosophy of situational ethics, elwells evangelical dictionary of theology says. Situational ethics joseph fletcher and his model of ethics. This explanation is the second of five alternative accounts of wrongdoing considered in the book. The new morality in 1966, partial and similar ideas of situational ethics have been in the mind of others earlier before. Situational ethics and the art of dishonesty, cheating, and lying the cover of a success magazine some years ago shouted out its lead story, the art of deceit. Situational ethics or situation ethics takes into account the particular context of an act when. The journal is interested in work in the history of ethics that bears directly on topics of contemporary interest, but does not consider articles of purely historical.
The story touted a new book leading the bestseller list in asia in asia its called american thick black theory, in america, its called thick face, black heart. Situational ethics wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Fletcher was an episcopal priest, a member of the euthanasia educational counsel, and. In one respect all ethics is situational as ethics is the process or decision making that we apply to a. It is based on agape love christian unconditional love, and says that we should always do the most loving thing in any situation fletcher rejected following rules regardless legalism and also the idea. Purposely, however, we have chosen to use the term situation ethics. An issue that was addressed in ulk that deserves a bit more comment is the involvement or noninvolvement of socalled snitches or special needs yard sny prisoners in any political movement andor prison reform activities the philosophy of the snitch is. Situational ethics is different from moral relativism in that moral relativism states. The effect of situation ethics upon moral values by bert thompson, ph. As a moral philosophy, the study of ethics encompasses the study of values that relate to human conduct in relation to wrongness or rightness of certain behaviors and to the effects of the motives resulting from such. Like many philosophers, frederick copleston had his reservations, but. Nygrens summary, where love is, no other precepts or commands are required, enshrines the theme of situational ethics. The new morality library of theological ethics 2nd revised edition by fletcher, joseph f. Situational ethics is a form of consequentialism, though distinct from utilitarianism in that the latters aim is the greatest good for the greatest number, while situational ethics focuses on creating the greatest amount of love.
Situational ethics is very subjective and emotionalbased. In its popularized form, situation ethics does not, however, depend upon christian insights. First published in 1966, the book cemented fletchers standing as one of the founders of the system known as situational ethics. There are several adverse consequences of the situation ethics philosophy. Situational ethics can also be classed under the ethical theory genre of proportionalism which says that it is never right to go against a principle. To ask other readers questions about situation ethics, please sign up. Flew, and others, it contains what many feel is the clearest expression of the situation ethics philosophy currently advocated by nonbelievers. Proposing an ethic of loving concern, fletcher suggests that certain actssuch as lying, premarital sex, adultery, or even murdermight be morally right, depending on the circumstances. Situation ethics, also called situational ethics, in ethics and theology, the position that moral decision making is contextual or dependent on a set of circumstances.
Pdf situation ethics download full pdf book download. In the mid1960s, joseph fletcher published the book, situation ethics, thereby securing for himself the dubious distinction, the father of situation ethics 1966. For people who profess to believe in absolute principles, this kind of thinking is anathema. The journal welcomes submissions of articles in any of these and related fields of research. It is rooted in a theoretical perspective that views organizations as systems of localized social interaction, and views organizational participants as by nature or necessity attentive to the. Situational ethics is a form of consequentialism, though distinct from utilitarianism in that the latters aim is the greatest good for the. Pg 158159 looking at this book from a fiftyyearslater viewpoint, one is perhaps most surprised to see how christianly fletchers approach originally wasparticularly in light. Situational ethics was pioneered by joseph fletcher 19051991.
Love is a type of emotion rather than some type of reasoning component. Fletcher rejected the traditional lawbased approach to christian ethics in favor of making the circumstances of each particular situation the norm by which right and wrong are decided. In situational ethics, right and wrong depend upon the facts of each situation rather than societal or cultural norms. Situational ethics or situation ethics takes into account the particular context of an act when evaluating it ethically, rather than judging it according to absolute moral standards. There are no universal moral rules or rights each case is unique and deserves a unique solution.
706 233 580 1349 90 1077 1394 1507 277 1279 371 559 423 1172 1068 1256 1192 399 409 1393 986 472 283 401 1304 883 363 272 642 1492 324 1170