Situation ethics is an ethical theory devised by philosopher Joseph Fletcher. In situation ethics moral principles can be overlooked if love is better served. It is teological, which is consequential but rather than the greatest good it is looking for the greatest love. Joseph Fletcher outlined his theory of situation ethics in ten principles which he separated into the four working presumptions and the six fundamental principles otherwise known as propositions. In this essay I will be examining four of Joseph Fletchers six fundamental principles.
The first fundamental principle is ‘only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all’. Only love is good in itself. Actions are not intrinsically good or evil as they are good or evil depending upon whether they promote the most loving result. Love is intrinsically valuable it has inherit worth. Nothing else has intrinsic value but it gains or acquires its value because it happens to help people making it good or hurt people making it bad. Actions are not intrinsically good or evil depending upon whether they produce the most loving result. They are extrinsically good depending on their circumstances and consequences. Joseph Fletcher said that actions are extrinsically good depending upon the circumstances. According to Joseph Fletchers first principle actions such as lying can be justified if the action itself is extrinsically good. Natural law states that actions such as lying are always wrong regardless of the circumstances. Joseph Fletcher said “circumstances alter cases', situationism holds that in practice what in some times and places we call right is in other times and places wrong”. A lie is not intrinsically wrong it is only wrong if it harms people however it may sometimes be right. For a Situationist what makes a lie right is its loving purpose.
The second fundamental principle is ‘The ruling norm of Christian decision is loving nothing else’. Love replaces the law as the law should be only obeyed in the interest of love and not for the sake of the law. Jesus replaced the torah with the principle of love. The Ten Commandments are not absolute as Jesus broke them when love demanded it. Christian love is self-giving making it right to go out and helps others such as been charitable instead of avoiding actions. Jesus summarised the whole law by saying ‘love god and love your neighbour’ as love is the only law. Joseph Fletcher rejected natural law he said “There are no natural universal laws held by all men everywhere at all times”.
The fourth fundamental principle is ‘love wills the neighbours good, whether we like him or not’. The love that Joseph Fletcher is concerned about is not a matter of feeling but of attitude of the will towards the other person. The love is Agape love it is not sentimental or erotic but rather a desire the good of other people. Your neighbour is anyone and Agape love should go to everyone and not just those people that we like. Agape love is unconditional and nothing is required in return. The ultimate norm of Christian decisions is love nothing else. The radical obligation of the Christian ethic to love even to the enemy suggests that every neighbour is not a friend.
The fifth fundamental principle is ‘only the end justifies the means, nothing else’. To consider moral actions without reference to their ends is an approach that lacks any obvious principle. Actions acquire moral status as a means to an end. For Joseph Fletcher the end must be the most loving result. When weighing up the situation one must consider the desired end, the means available, the motive for action and the foreseeable consequences. Joseph Fletcher “the end doesn’t justify the means’ he said ‘then what on earth does?”. If the action causes harm then the action is wrong if good comes of the action then it is right action to take. Joseph Fletcher said you can’t claim to be right following a rule knowing it will cause great harm as only the end or the outcome can justify your action.