Joseph Fletcher was an American philosopher best known for his work in ethics, particularly in the field of situational ethics. Born in 1905, he developed a moral framework that emphasized the importance of love and context in ethical decision-making, rather than strict adherence to rules. His ideas challenged traditional moral theories and sought to make ethics more applicable to real-life situations. Fletcher's influential book, Situation Ethics: The New Morality, published in 1966, outlined his principles and sparked significant debate in philosophical and religious circles. He argued that love should be the guiding principle in all moral choices, advocating for a flexible approach to ethics that considers individual circumstances.