Situation Ethics: considers only the context of an act when evaluating it ethically, rather
than judging it according to absolute moral standards.
Natural Law: system of law based on a close observation of human nature and based on
values intrinsic to human nature that can be deuced and applied independent of positive law
(the enacted laws of a state or society).
The famous case of Ms Bergmeier / Sacrificial Adultery:
o A weakness of justifying this is that it could be interpreted that adultery can be
acceptable (even though this might be a bit of a reach).
o A strength of justifying this is that you can apply the individual contexts of each case,
so that the general rules do not apply.
Joseph Fletcher:
Notes:
o 1905-1991. Born in New Jersey.
o Ordained into the Episcopal Church of America (Anglican) and became the Dean of
St Paul’s Cathedral in Cincinnati.
o Prolific writer of ten academic books and hundreds of medical, religious, and ethical
papers. Wrote “Situation Ethics” in 1966.
o Lost his faith and became a humanist after being accused of communism during the
McCarthy witch-hunts. This practically destroyed his career.
Fletcher advocated for an innovative approach to ethics between the two extremes of
legalism and antinomianism. Do the most loving thing based on agape love, which he called
the middle ground.
o Legalism: an approach to ethics that accepts the absolute nature of established rules
or principles. It is strict and should be followed no matter what.
o Antinomianism: a theory of ethics that does not recognise the authority but
promotes freedom from external rules. No moral code = do what you like.
The Four Loves is a book by C.S. Lewis, written in 1960, which explores the nature of love
from a Christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments.
o Eros – romantic love.
o Philia – friendship love.
o Storge – empathy love.
o Agape – unconditional “Godlike” love.
Context:
o 1960s – rejection of traditional ideas.
o Modern technology, new ways of doing things, new ways of thinking about things –
this meant a rapid change in culture.
o UK:
Abortion Act 1967.
Sexual Offences Act 1967.
Sexual Discrimination Act 1975.
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000.
Rudolf Bultmann:
o He claimed that “Jesus Christ had no ethics except for ‘Love thy neighbour as
thyself’”. Challenged traditional views in the New Testament.
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