Year 8 - Religious education
Situation ethics
Ethics: how do we know what is 'good'?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will use a philosophical lens to consider what we mean by good. They will examine various ethical answers given such deontology, utilitarianism and situation ethics. They will conclude by weighing up the issue of suffering in the world.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the use of situation ethics in decision-making and suggest reasons for its usefulness.
Key Notes
- Christians use different methods for making ethical decisions, including using deontological approaches & virtue ethics.
- Joseph Fletcher introduced situation ethics in the 1960s as an alternative approach for Christians.
- The fundamental belief in situation ethics is that agape love is the only intrinsic good.
- Situation ethics is teleological because it means focusing on the situation & deciding which is the most loving action.
- One criticism is that people have different ideas about what is the most loving action.
Vocabulary To Learn
- agape love: the selfless, unconditional love that Jesus taught through the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself'
- Joseph Fletcher: an American Christian theologian who developed situation ethics in the 1960s
- situation ethics: an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Situation ethics allows for any action to be justified as long as it feels loving to the individual.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Christians use different methods for making ethical decisions, including using deontological approaches & virtue ethics. Joseph Fletcher introduced situation ethics in the 1960s as an alternative approach for Christians.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'agape love'
the selfless, unconditional love that Jesus taught through the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself'.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Situation ethics allows for any action to be justified as long as it feels loving to the individual. Correction: Situation ethics requires thoughtful consideration and aims for actions that promote selfless and agape love for the well-being of others, rather than justifying actions based on individual feelings.
More Lessons In This Unit
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