Situation Ethics An Anglican theologian Joseph Fletcher developed situation Ethics. Legalism is the idea that there are fixed moral laws which are to be obeyed at all times. Antinomianism is the idea that there are no fixed moral principles but that one acts morally spontaneously. Fletcher rejects Legalism because it cannot accommodate 'exceptions to the rule'. If you reject one aspect of the law you surely reject it all. He also rejects Antinomianism on the basis of existentialist ethics which argues that reality is composed of singular events and moments in time. In advocating a situationist ethic Fletcher argued that it is not the 'primary precept' which is the bedrock for the 'secondary precept' but quite the reverse. 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. Within each context it is not the overriding 'primary precept' that is to be followed, but instead the law of love 'to do whatever is the most loving thing'. In the Christian tradition this may be expressed as, 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself' (Matthew 22:39) The precept to do whatever is the most loving thing is not a law but a motive and an attitude that can inform moral choice. Each situation should be taken differently and act in love accordingly even if that means breaking established moral rules/codes of practice. For example, it is considered wrong to steal but if by stealing a gun you are preventing a person from killing people ... ... middle of paper ... ...ective. A strong argument against is the fact love is de-valued with this argument, situation ethics is fundamentally vague, resting on a very indefinite definition of love, and could in practice be used to justify anything. It takes relativism in the sense of opposing an excess of absolute rules to the extreme of relativism in the sense of 'anything goes, so long as the motive can be described as "loving".' If the basis of right and wrong is the way actions affect human beings - as situation ethics agrees - then surely we should just consider their consequences, and not some conception of how loving the person in question's motives were. I believe that with all these weaknesses it leaves the theory very weak as it can be used to justify anything as it is forcing you to think from quite a selfish point of view.
In the following case, Luke is involved in a very perplexing conflict, or Ethical dilemma. This situation is an Ethical dilemma, and not just a regular “everyday” problem, because to Luke there might not be an obvious answer. He can also be thinking that both choices, keeping his commitments of confidentiality and telling his brother, Owen, are both correct things to do. If Luke tells his brother about the project, then he might concur with a theory known as Breach of confidentiality. “Breach of confidentiality occurs when someone gives away information that was supposed to be kept private.” (GENB4350 Online Lecture, Ethical Reasoning 1). By Luke breaching information that is supposed to be kept secret, he will betray the trust of his company
It is true that this patient lost her life due to religious reasons. Doing what is ethically right is the right thing to do in this type a challenge. I know it is frustrating for the healthcare team present at that time for not saving the life of this individual. But patient has the right to for his medical condition. (Right to refuse or accept care).
Patients who deny suggested consideration represent a critical test in the emergency department. Such patients can be uncooperative, and their capacity to comprehend data may be impeded by medicinal pathology or intoxicants. The outcomes of a choice to reject emergency consideration may be not kidding and lasting. The numerous contending requests of an occupied Emergency treatment now and then make it troublesome for doctors to appropriately survey such patients before they are permitted to leave.
In Yolanda Estes’ essay “Moral Reflections on Prostitution” she argues that “prostitution violates the Kantian ‘principle of humanity’ because it reflects a disrespectful attitude, which is expressed in the nonchalant use of the human body as a mere means to achieve some goal” (p.1). I merit Estes for arguing her belief logically using the support of five clearly outlined claims.
Investigators and prosecutors are constantly faced with several ethical dilemmas while executing their duties, which usually put them at a position whereby they have to make critical decisions in order to avoid a lot of public scrutiny. Some of these dilemmas include administrative discretion and nepotism. First, investigators and administrators have to maintain the highest levels of discretion while making decisions regarding particular cases (Padfield & Gelsthorpe, 2012). The question that many people, therefore, ask is whether these decisions are justified or not. Because they have to ensure success and maintain their reputation, these people when faced with dilemmas have to choose between two equally unfavorable options. As Pollock (2011) emphasizes, this task is very challenging. According to the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration & Management (CAPAM) (2010), the rules and regulations give investigators and prosecutors the opportunity to use their own discretion to make a decision regarding a problem at hand. However, despite the choice made, the problem is that it may be accepted only by a small section of the society. Because exercising discretion is often made on the basis of personal judgment, the society might take this as a corrupt practice. Some people might believe that the choice was made based on personal preference, affiliation to a particular group, or even personal aggrandizement (CAPAM, 2010). Another ethical dilemma that investigators and prosecutors face is nepotism. This concept is described by CAPAM (2010) as a practice where individuals make decisions to the favor of close relatives, friends, and other close people, which usually downgrade the quality of public service. In other words, when ...
This is a weak argument and in order to clarify those weaknesses one can look
An ethical dilemma is a complicated situation that involves an evident conflict between moral rules, in which to obey one would result in disobeying another. Sometimes called ethical paradoxes in moral philosophy, ethical dilemmas are often invoked in an attempt to contradict an ethical system or moral code, or to improve it so as to resolve the paradox.
In the story, Bowen was a participant in a sabbatical program for Morgan Stanley, where he spent sixty days climbing the icy and dangerous Himalayas in Nepal. He set out for this journey with his friend Stephen, who was an Anthropologist, their porters and some Sherpas. During their hike, Bowen & Stephen encountered a New Zealander who had with him a barefoot, barely clothed, Indian man who happened to be a Sadhu, who at the moment was exhausted and hypothermic. The New Zealander was on a mission to complete his goal, and carrying the Sadhu with him made it almost impossible to trek any further. Stephen and Bowen tried their best to help the Sadhu by helping him stay warm. Surely enough, the Sadhu recovered, but he was still unable to walk. Soon Bowen also realized that the Sadhu was getting in the way of his trip to the summit. So, Bowen decided to leave the Sadhu with Stephen. Following Bowen’s departure, some men from Switzerland and Japan also helped the Sadhu during their trip. It is important to note that all the different cultures of climbers: the Sherpas, the Swiss, the New Zealanders, and the Japanese were able to provide the Sadhu with some sort of assistance that was vital to his survival. However, in the end, the Sadhu was left behind with some clothes, food and drinks to trek two days to the nearest village. Ultimately, all the climbing parties were determined enough to accomplish their goal to reach the summit. Unfortunately, no one knew whether the Sadhu was still alive or not. Even thought it is apparent that everybody contributed in reviving the Sadhu, nobody took complete responsibility for the Sadhu’s life. Seemingly, in the end, Stephen and Bowen assumed that the Sadhu might have not survived the hike to the n...
Fletcher's Theory of Situation Ethics. Joseph Fletcher provoked a great debate amongst Christians. He is quite clear in the approach he advocates and in no way wants to be. confused with antinomianism, the belief that through 'grace' a Christians have no need to obey any moral rules/ laws. In Fletcher's Situation Ethics no act is in itself either good or bad.
Everyone in this world has experienced an ethical dilemma in different situations and this may arise between one or more individuals. Ethical dilemma is a situation where people have to make complex decisions and are influenced based on personal interest, social environment or norms, and religious beliefs (“Strategic Leadership”, n.d.). The leaders and managers in the company should set guidelines to ensure employees are aware and have a better chance to solve and make ethical decisions. Employees are also responsible in understanding their ethical obligations in order to maintain a positive work environment. The purpose of this case study is to identify the dilemma and analyze different decisions to find ways on how a person should act
In the age of assisted reproductive technology (ART), ART is seen as the solution for overcoming infertility and other reproductive barriers. While courts in the United States have held that there is a fundamental right to procreate and a fundamental right to parent, what does reproductive rights mean for those who do not have heterosexual relationships and for those who do not wish to be in a relationship? In the presentation of his new book The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction, Hank Greely conceives of a future where sex is no longer the source for creating babies. Led by revolutionary developments in genetics and stem cell research, future babies will be created through preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). While Greely views this future as inevitable, the use of PGD and IVF poses several ethical issues. The purpose of this essay is not only to explicate these ethical issues, but to engage with Greely’s presentation. In doing so, I will connect envision what Greely’s presentation would look like through a feminist lens.
The Principles of Situation Ethics For centuries people have based their moral rules on religious grounds, for example the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. However, at the end of the last century an alternate base to peopleÂ’s morals was offered, called Situation Ethics. Situation Ethics was an idea developed by a man called Joseph Fletcher, an Anglican Theologian. Situation EthicÂ
Morals and principles rule our behavior, these elements are termed ethics. When working as a counselor or psychologist these ethics determine our level of professionalism and commitment to our clients. A case study will be reviewed in the context of ethics. Ethical standards and codes will be evaluated and relevant standards will be utilized and justified for relevance as it pertains to the case study. Multicultural issues within the decision-making model will be considered. The steps used in the process of decision-making will be discussed, as well as an ethical reasoning model will be applied with evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of using the chosen model. A solution for the dilemma will be
... we have found real evidence supporting our claim with persuading and logical reasoning for each of the arguments. On the other hand, their arguments are weak because most of them were only based on mere opinions without strong evidence proving their point.
Many people have different views of what ethical behavior is. Ethical behavior is defined as “Acting in ways consistent with what society and individuals typically think are good values. Ethical behavior tends to be good for business and involves demonstrating respect for key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and individual rights (Ethical behavior, 2016).” In this paper, I explored ethical decision making with examples. In addition, I discuss how ethical decision making benefits from a Christian worldview.