Situation Ethics

Situation ethics is a teleological (consequentialist) Christian ethical theory developed primarily by the American theologian Joseph Fletcher (1905–1991) in his 1966 book Situation Ethics: The New Morality. It argues that the only moral absolute is agape (selfless, unconditional love), and that every moral decision must be made in the context of the particular situation, guided by love rather than by rigid rules.

Key Definition: Situation ethics is an ethical theory that rejects both legalism and antinomianism, holding that the morally right action is always the most loving action in any given situation, guided by the principle of agape.

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Fletcher's Three Approaches to Ethics

Fletcher identified three possible approaches to ethical decision-making and positioned situation ethics as a middle way between two extremes.

1. Legalism

Legalism is the approach that relies on fixed, predetermined rules and laws to determine what is right and wrong. In Christian tradition, this might mean strict adherence to the Ten Commandments, canon law, or church teaching. Legalism provides certainty and consistency but can become rigid and inflexible, failing to account for the complexities of individual situations.