Joseph Fletcher Fletcher proposed that in forming an ethical system based on love, he was best expressing the notion of "love thy neighbor," which Jesus Christ taught in the Gospels of the New Testament of the Bible. Through situational ethics, Fletcher was attempting to find a "middle road" between legalistic and antinomian ethics. Fletcher developed his theory of situational ethics in his books: The Classic Treatment and Situation Ethics. Situational ethics is thus a teleological or consequential theory, in that it is primarily concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end. Fletcher proposed that loving ends justify any means. Fletcher outlined his theory in four "working principles" and six "fundamental principles". The four working principles The following are presuppositions Fletcher makes before setting out the situational ethics theory: Pragmatism: An action someone makes should be judged according to the love influenced in it, so the user must always ask: what is the most loving thing to do? For example, war may not to a situationist be considered the most 'loving' thing and so many are quick to deem it as morally wrong. Relativism: Approaching every situation with a relative mindset and thus opposing legalistic approaches avoid words such as 'never', 'complete' and 'perfect'. Positivism: The most important choice of all in the teachings in 1 John 4:7–12 is "let us love one another because love is from God". Personalism: Whereas the legalist thinks people should work to laws, the situational ethicist believes that laws benefit the people. This forces the user to ask 'who is to be helped?' instead of 'what is the law', stressing the importance of people before laws. The six fundamental principles (propositions) First proposition Only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love: nothing else at all. Fletcher (1966, p. 56) an action is good only in so far as it brings about agape. Second proposition The ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else. Fletcher (1966, p. 69) the most important commandment is to love God and "love thy neighbour". Third proposition Love and Justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else. Fletcher (1966, p. 87) asks that one must always have an eye on the intention of an action. Justice is Christian love using its head, calculating its duties, obligations, opportunities, resources... Justice is love coping with situations where distribution is called for. Fletcher (1966, p. 95) Fourth