Criticisms of Situation Ethics
Major criticisms of situation ethics include: William Barclay's charge of antinomianism; concerns about ethical relativism and subjectivity; worries about justice when individual conscience judges; and questions about the system's incoherence or impracticality.
Real World
William Barclay's critique echoes real dilemmas: a soldier in WWII might convince himself that torturing a prisoner is the 'loving' act if it saves lives — illustrating exactly how situation ethics can rationalise harmful actions through subjective love-claims.
Exam Focus
Name Barclay specifically for AO1 credit; for AO2 counter each criticism with Fletcher's four working principles to show balance.
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