Situation Ethics Provides Little Aid

Situation Ethics provides little aid in resolving difficult moral dilemmas

Situation Ethics does provide aid in resolving difficult moral dilemmas. In situation ethics, right and wrong depend upon the situation. There are no universal moral rules or rights, each case is unique and deserves a unique solution to the problem. Situation ethics was originally devised in a Christian context, but it can easily be applied in a non-religious way.

One reason why situation ethics may provide little aid in resolving difficult moral dilemmas would be that it is a relativistic theory, therefore one person’s interpretation of ‘love’ may vary due to their outlook and upbringing ; so the definition of love would vary from person to person making it not clear what love means/is. Some people would argue that every conceivable act could be allowed by Situation Ethics, even terrible acts like murder, rape and torture could technically be allowed if the person believed they were doing the right thing and that it was a loving act therefore Situation ethics excludes most universal moral ideas. By doing this it remove any useful ethical framework for human behaviour and morals.

In most situations just saying “do the most loving thing” isn’t always the most helpful solution to a situation, that is why in some circumstances Situation ethics is needed. For example you can't say that abortion should be made illegal as everyones reason may be different e.g a woman has an ectopic pregnancy and will most likely die if she does give birth and the other woman is expecting a girl and only wants a boy. Surely with two extremely different situations you can’t expect the same rules to apply.   Situation ethics is personal and sensitive to circumstances, context. Another reason why situation ethics provides aid when resolving difficult moral dilemmas is that it doesn’t rely on religious belief. As religious beliefs   don't play a part in the final design   it is therefore easier to make a level...