Johannesen: Chapter 5

This chapter deals with the idea of situational perspectives. Johannesen explains the concept of situational perspectives by stating that depending on the specific situation, the approach and ethical standards held may vary due to the sitaution's context. However, there are four main perspectives Johannesen cites, however there were two that stuck out to me as interesting. 


The first piece of information that stands out to me is found within the first perspective, Situational Ethics and Public Relations Professionals. On page 72, Johannesen quotes David L. Martinson saying, "Many undoubtedly respond by 'doing what needs to be done' -- leaving 'worries' about ethical questions until 'later.'" 


This automatically makes me think of various events throughout the world's history, the Holocaust of World War II especially.


Although I can not say for sure, it seems as if some of the Nazi's, or SS members, had this same mentality towards the Jews, handicapped, homosexuals, gypsies, and other groups of people they exterminated during World War II to purge Germany of those inferior to the Master Race. Clearly there were ethical violations being made in a large scale. But to the Nazi's, was extermination just something that "needed to be done?" which allowed them to set aside their ethical questions until later?


In the beginning of the book we have been studying by Schultze, he gives the example of the Nazi who comes to the Jewish man for forgiveness. Instead of responding to the Nazi man's pleas, the Jewish man stood up and left the room in silence.


That man's ethical violations caught up with him.


I wonder if any of the other Nazi's or those involved with the extermination stopped and reevaluated what they were doing? Did they feel bad? Did they feel like it was justified because of their loss in World War I like Adolf Hitler believed?


Joseph Fletcher, a professor of social ethics at an Episcopal theological school says "the love for fellow humans in the form of genuine affection for them and concern for their welfare"is one of way to analyze situational ethics from the Christian standpoint (73).


I also wonder if any of the Nazi or SS officers were converted after the Holocaust? Fletcher's statement spells out the idea that we are supposed to love each other and care about each other.


I like that situational perspective the best because I think it is the most realistic. If everyone was concerned about the welfare of their neighbor, and everyone loved each other, how different would our world be?


Would escape war? Injustices? Murder? Crime? Genocide?


As Christians it is our responsibility to share the love of Christ to each other and advocate that same sort of idea that Fletcher had, love and care for your neighbor.