Fletcher argued that it is in fact the individual and the situation that is the most important thing as it is the application of an ethical principle that makes an action good or evil. There can be no ‘absolutes’ as each situation has the potential to bring about exceptions to the rule. Fletcher believed that the only law to be followed is the law of love; an example of this is the Christian teachings of ‘love thy neighbour as you love yourself’ (Matthew 22:39).
Fletchers view was that it is important to take each situation and act in love accordingly even if it means breaking established laws. For example, it is considered wrong to steal, but if by stealing a gun you are preventing a person from killing people then you have acted in love and thus your theft is none accountable. In fact the only accountability in situation ethics is whether your actions will result in the highest possible expression of love for others.
Fletcher sought to traverse a middle way of love between lots of rules and no rules. One of fletchers main arguments in ‘situation ethics’ is that Christians are meant to love people not laws and it is an argument that is grounded in four working principles and six fundamental principles.
The four working principles are: 1): the practical course of an action is motivated by love 2): the necessity is always respond in love to each situation. 3): the necessity to accept the premise of acting in love by faith rather than by reason. 4):the desire to put people, not laws first.
The six fundamental principles: 1): no actions intrinsically right or wrong. Nothing is good and in and of itself except for love. Actins are good if they help people and bad if they don’t. 2): good actions should not be done for reward, but should be done for their own sake. Jesus and Paul taught love as the highest principle above the law. 3): justice is love at work in the community. 4): love wills the neighbours good, whether we like him or not, Christian love is unconditional. 5): love is the end – never a means to something else. And finally 6): humans have the responsibility of freedom, they are not bound by any law. With this comes the responsibility to ‘do the most loving thing’ in every situation.
Fletcher claims that it is a mistake to generalise ‘you cant say is it ever right to lie to your family?’ the answer must be ‘I don’t know’. As a concrete situation is needed, not a generalisation . ‘it all depends’ seems to be the catchphrase of the situationist.
Overall Fletcher’s theory of situation ethics is based on agape love. You all must do the most loving thing. In situation ethics, there are no absolutes, everything you do depends on the situation.