Situation Ethics
“There is only one ultimate and invariable duty and its formula is “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself”. How to do this is another question, but this is the whole of moral duty” (Temple, 1923)
Situation ethics is about looking at each individual situation and not applying a standard code of
ethics. Instead, the key to making moral decisions is the principle of agape love - the kind of Christian
love which enables us to put others first and even to love our enemies as Jesus taught. It is a
teleological ethical theory as it looks at the consequences of actions, and decides that the action with
the most loving action is the most moral one to take. (Don’t confuse this for Utilitarianism - yes, both
are teleological, but Utilitarianism aims for the greatest good for the greatest number, not the most
loving obligation).
● Situation Ethics - Doing the most loving thing in any
situation.
● Agape - Unconditional love
There are 4 main types of love found in the Bible:
1. Eros - Desire/ Lust
2. Storge - Affection/ Family Love
3. Philia - Friendship love
4. Agape - Selfless/Unconditional love
ThisA radical Christian ethical approach
A ‘love ethic’ was supported by many philosophers even before Fletcher wrote his seminal text
‘Situation Ethics’
“The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law” (Paul Tillich, 1951)
● A consequentialist theory - It understands the rightness and wrongness of an action by
looking at the consequences of the action. Does it bring the most loving action
● A teleological theory - It is concerned with the end purpose or goal of the action. The goal
should be ‘agape (self sacrificing love)’ The Greek word telos means end.
● A relativistic theory - It doesn’t follow any absolute, universal rules. Each situation has to be
looked at independently.
Joseph Fletcher (1905 - 1991)
“The morality of an action depends on the situation” - Joseph Fletcher (1963)
Situation Ethics was proposed by an American professor, Joseph Fletcher, who founded the theory of
Situation Ethics in the 1960s. He was a pioneer in bioethics and was involved in the areas of abortion,
infanticide, euthanasia and cloning. As a Christian he based his ethics on Christian teachings.
This theory was developed in the 60s as socially there was a lot of social change and turmoil:
, Fletcher offers different ethical principles that he maintains are true to Christian beliefs. Fletcher
believed that there are no absolute laws other than the law of agape. Agape is a term that comes
from Greek which means unconditional love for all people. Fletcher believed that in forming an ethical
system based on love, he was expressing the Christian notion of “love thy neighbour as you love
yourself”. All laws were laid down to achieve the greatest amount of love; this means that all the other
laws are only guidelines on how to achieve this kind of love, and thus they may not be the best course
of action if another would result in more love.
Biblical teaching to support this are:
- The teachings of Jesus (Luke 10:25-37)
- The teaching of St Paul (1 Corinthians 13)
- Luke 10:27
- John 13:34-35
John Robinson (1960)
John Robinson also developed similar views to Fletcher and was supportive of Situation Ethics.
“For I suspect we stand on the brink of a period in which it is going to become increasingly difficult to
know what the true defence of Christian truth requires” - John Robinson
Situation ethics is inspired by Jesus’ gospel message of love (agape)
Fletcher appealed to the biblical scholar Rudolf Bultmann according to whom Jesus taught no ethics
other than:
● “Love thy neighbour as thyself” = Ultimate Duty
He was believed to have been inspired by “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). Fletcher believed that we
should follow the rules until we need to break them for love.
“There is only one ultimate and invariable duty and its formula is “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself”. How to do this is another question, but this is the whole of moral duty” (Temple, 1923)
Situation ethics is about looking at each individual situation and not applying a standard code of
ethics. Instead, the key to making moral decisions is the principle of agape love - the kind of Christian
love which enables us to put others first and even to love our enemies as Jesus taught. It is a
teleological ethical theory as it looks at the consequences of actions, and decides that the action with
the most loving action is the most moral one to take. (Don’t confuse this for Utilitarianism - yes, both
are teleological, but Utilitarianism aims for the greatest good for the greatest number, not the most
loving obligation).
● Situation Ethics - Doing the most loving thing in any
situation.
● Agape - Unconditional love
There are 4 main types of love found in the Bible:
1. Eros - Desire/ Lust
2. Storge - Affection/ Family Love
3. Philia - Friendship love
4. Agape - Selfless/Unconditional love
ThisA radical Christian ethical approach
A ‘love ethic’ was supported by many philosophers even before Fletcher wrote his seminal text
‘Situation Ethics’
“The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law” (Paul Tillich, 1951)
● A consequentialist theory - It understands the rightness and wrongness of an action by
looking at the consequences of the action. Does it bring the most loving action
● A teleological theory - It is concerned with the end purpose or goal of the action. The goal
should be ‘agape (self sacrificing love)’ The Greek word telos means end.
● A relativistic theory - It doesn’t follow any absolute, universal rules. Each situation has to be
looked at independently.
Joseph Fletcher (1905 - 1991)
“The morality of an action depends on the situation” - Joseph Fletcher (1963)
Situation Ethics was proposed by an American professor, Joseph Fletcher, who founded the theory of
Situation Ethics in the 1960s. He was a pioneer in bioethics and was involved in the areas of abortion,
infanticide, euthanasia and cloning. As a Christian he based his ethics on Christian teachings.
This theory was developed in the 60s as socially there was a lot of social change and turmoil:
, Fletcher offers different ethical principles that he maintains are true to Christian beliefs. Fletcher
believed that there are no absolute laws other than the law of agape. Agape is a term that comes
from Greek which means unconditional love for all people. Fletcher believed that in forming an ethical
system based on love, he was expressing the Christian notion of “love thy neighbour as you love
yourself”. All laws were laid down to achieve the greatest amount of love; this means that all the other
laws are only guidelines on how to achieve this kind of love, and thus they may not be the best course
of action if another would result in more love.
Biblical teaching to support this are:
- The teachings of Jesus (Luke 10:25-37)
- The teaching of St Paul (1 Corinthians 13)
- Luke 10:27
- John 13:34-35
John Robinson (1960)
John Robinson also developed similar views to Fletcher and was supportive of Situation Ethics.
“For I suspect we stand on the brink of a period in which it is going to become increasingly difficult to
know what the true defence of Christian truth requires” - John Robinson
Situation ethics is inspired by Jesus’ gospel message of love (agape)
Fletcher appealed to the biblical scholar Rudolf Bultmann according to whom Jesus taught no ethics
other than:
● “Love thy neighbour as thyself” = Ultimate Duty
He was believed to have been inspired by “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). Fletcher believed that we
should follow the rules until we need to break them for love.
