Evaluation
When we evaluate something we give reasons for arguing why something may be good or bad, weak or strong. Below are words/phrases which might be linked to situation ethics. Select the two which you consider to be its most important strengths and two which you think might be its most significant weaknesses.
Click on your chosen words once to highlight them red, for weakness, or twice to highlight them green for strength. Clicking a third time will remove any highlights. Be prepared to justify each one of your selections.
| Words and phrases | ||
|---|---|---|
| Consequentialist | Relativistic | Flexible |
| Individualistic | Lacks hard and fast rules | Requires calculation and judgement case by case |
| Agape based | Christian | Can lead to different outcomes |
Fletcher emphasises justice in his book, For example he argues that ‘love and justice are the same’. But is it just and fair not to have any fixed rules of behaviour (such as ‘do not lie’)? Don’t rules imply that past wisdom has shown that generally it is better to follow the rule, don’t lie? Suppose I promise to give you £100. The next day I say, “I met someone who needed the £100 more than you, and agape required that I give it to them”. Would you argue this was unjust? Why or why not?
Do you think there is a strength or weakness that is missing from this table?