"The ruling norm of decision making is love" Discuss

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“The ruling norm of decision making is love”

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In 1863 Jeremy Bentham created the theory of Utilitarianism, a theory which later would be further developed John Mill. This theory was based on the function of how to make a decision that consequently founded in both pleasure and happiness. But in 1966 Joseph Fletcher wrote a book entitled Situation Ethics. In it he described a new method of decision making in a moral dilemma, he suggested using the method αγαπε Love,

“In Fletchers eyes, love replaces Bentham’s and Mill’s idea of pleasure: we now act to cause love rather that pleasure.”

Mitchell

The formation of Situation Ethics was argued by Fletcher to be halfway in-between normative/legalism (set out rules of behaviour to be applied in a particular moral situation) and antinomian (without rules). He argued that a situations would have pre determined rules of conduct for particular moral dilemmas, but is prepared to set theses aside if αγαπε seems to be a better option.

He based his theory around four working principles and six fundamental propositions.

The four working principles are:

  1. Pragmatism: The idea that the proposed course of action must work towards the end
  2. Relativism: The idea that situation ethics is relevant to specific situations
  3. Positivism: The idea that situationists believe in God, who is loving, therefore giving Christian love priority
  4. Personalism: The idea that situationists put people first, just like legalist would put the law first.
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The Six fundamental propositions are:

  1. One thing is intrinsically good and that is love (αγαπε)
  2. Αγαπε is the ruling norm of Christian decision making
  3. Love and Justice are the same for justice is love distributed
  4. Love wills the neighbours good, whether we like him or not
  5. Only the end justifies the means, nothing else
  6. Love decision are made situationally

The theory serves many basic and simple ideas that ideally reflects Christian ethics. Αγαπε is compatible with the gospel of Jesus in that there is only one rule, “Love thy neighbour”. Therefore ...

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