Ethical doctrine that our moral duty cannot be rigorously subjected to general rules, but must take account of each situation as it arises.
Unlike anti-nomianism it does not reject such rules altogether, but insists on flexibility in applying them.
Unlike casuistry it does not insist on breaching rules only if some other rule can be found which takes precedence, but appeals rather to love as its supreme guiding principle.
It may, however, be accused of similarly leading to uncertainty, or even moral anarchy, with inconvenient comparisons being rejected because of the alleged uniqueness of the present case.
Source:
J Fletcher, Situation Ethics (1966)
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