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This lesson explores the concepts of Christian ethics, including Divine Command Theory and the debate over whether Christian ethics are absolute or relative. Topics such as Situation Ethics, Natural Law, Kantian Ethics, and Utilitarianism are analyzed, with key questions posed for group discussion. Theories are examined in relation to their Christian foundations and their effectiveness in ethical decision-making. Students are prompted to critically assess various ethical theories and their compatibility with Christian beliefs.
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Lesson 3 Is Christian Ethics Absolute or Relative?
Overview • Introduction to Christian Ethics • Divine Command Theory • Are Christian Ethics Relative or Absolute? • Comparing different types of Christian Ethics • Evaluating Religious Ethics
Discuss in your groups • What questions do you have from this weeks readings?
Definitions test: • Autonomy • Heteronomy • Theonomy • Divine command • Situation ethics • Natural law • Biblical ethics • Golden rule
Situation Ethics • Mindmap everything you know about Situation Ethics. Make sure you use all the key words. • Is Situation Ethics a Christian Ethical Theory? Use evidence from your reading to help you? • How does Situation Ethics improve on Divine Command Theory?
Situation Ethics • Answer the following questions and then discuss: • Do you think that Fletcher’s ethics are Christian? • Analyse Fletcher’s view that ‘the end of love justifies the means’. • Is Situation Ethics a useful guide for ethical decision making? • Are moral rules totally useless in moral decision-making or can you see a role for them? • Is the choice for Christian Ethics just between legalism and situationism?
Natural Law • Mindmap everything you know about Natural Law. Make sure you use all the key words. • Is Natural Law Christian Ethical Theory? • How does Natural Law improve on Divine Command Theory?
Kantian Ethics • Mindmap everything you know about Kantian Ethics. Make sure you use all the key words. • Is Kantian Ethics a Christian Ethical Theory? • How does Kant improve on Christian Ethics?
Kantian Ethics – take notes! • Kantian ethics might look Christian - BUT IT IS NOT! • It seems to fit quite nicely into Christianity when thinking about the categorical imperative that suggests that humans have intrinsic value (similar to biblical ethics). • However Jesus teaches that rules are not paramount (curing on the Sabbath etc). Kant insists that rules are to be followed without exception. • Kant also argues that right moral action can be deduced using reason, leaving no room for authority, tradition or revelation. • Kantian Ethics are apriori (innate and known through reason) whereas Natural Law is a posteriori and discovers right reason through experience.
UTILITARIANISM • Mindmap everything you know about UTILITARIANISM. Make sure you use all the key words. • Is Utilitarianism a Christian Ethical Theory? • How does Utilitarianism improve on Christian Ethics?
Utilitarianism – take notes • Jeremy Bentham reacted against the rules based society of his time an was dismissive of Natural Law or Biblical Ethics • J S Mill however, in measuring pleasure qualitatively thought that people should stick to general rules and likened the principle of Utility to Jesus’ Golden Rule’: Love your neighbour as yourself and Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. He saw Utilitarianism as ultimately benevolent and suggested that Christians could support Utilitarianism • Situation Ethics is accused of being Utilitarian and Fletcher recognised the similarities (both are teleological and relativist).
Part B Practice • ‘It is indefensible to base ethics on religion’ Discuss • What would you put into this part B? • How would you structure it?
