Care Ethics

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  • Created by: ewilco1
  • Created on: 04-05-19 14:24
Lack of woman
The experiences of women have been ignored in ethical theories
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No problem
It is only natural that the philosophers reflected the nature of the time e.g. Aristotle and slavery. We are becoming more equal so more philosophy is being written by women
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No problem: response
There are experiences/perspectives unique to women. The absence of these from ethical theories is a problem because we might have missed features of our moral lives which women's experiences can reveal.
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Claims of (some) feminist ethics
1. Moral equality of interests 2. Experiences of women deserve our respect 3. Feminine traits just as important as masculine traits 4. Feminine ways of understanding problem superior to masculine ways
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Claims of (some) feminist ethics: notes
no systematic approach; many interest in justice and rights; focus on care ethics; moral equality of interest =/= same; essentialist or socially constructed
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Biology or sociology?
Essentialist - women act different because of biology e.g. babies and faces, Darwin. But much empirical data is against this. Socially constructed - women put in positions of care, more emotive than men.
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What kind of traits?
Feminine vs masculine: Emotionality vs rationality; caring + compassionate vs hard-headed, disinterested; personal + concrete vs abstract + universal; dependent vs independent
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What kind of experiences?
Dependency, caring, vulnerability, oppression, private sphere
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Not all men
Not all women/men have experiences/traits. But women are more likely to be encouraged to be emotional/caring which is seen as a hindrance to philosophical thought
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Key claims
Perspectives associated with women have been excluded from our moral theories, which may be key to revealing aspects of our moral lives. E.g. the attitude of care:
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The attitude of care
Our moral lives are governed by caring relationships with others not abstract concepts. So caring relationships should be central to understanding of our moral lives.
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Kohlberg's stages of moral development
1. Obey authority/avoid punishment; 2. Aim to satisfy desires; 3. Relationships + duties to social roles; 4. Obey the law maintain welfare of group; 5. Uphold basic rights + values; 6. Act according to universal moral principles
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Kohlberg's example
Heinz's dilemma.
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Applying Kohlberg's Responses
Jake, age 11 - shouldn't steal drug - higher stage of moral development, referring to abstract principles. Amy, age 11 - shouldn't steal the drug - lower stage of moral development, refers to roles and personal relationships, looking to compromise.
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Applying Kohlberg's Responses
Girls mature slower than boys morally speaking
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Gillian's criticism
Jake response only superior if we value abstract principles over an ethic of caring. Women's basic moral orientation: care for others.
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Nodding's care ethics
Modern ethics too abstract - removes all details of situation leaving with "bare bones". This approach is distorting and inadequate. Women less likely to reason about morality in abstract way.
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Care ethics claims
Basic orientation of caring for others. Specific, personal, moral problems we face day to day.
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Care ethics: relationships
Places a caring relationship between people who are dependent on each other. Fully independent agent not true or morally desirable.
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Care ethics: emotion
Places caring relationships at it centre. Care is an emotion, involves other, thinking and feeling. Helps us understand what others needs. Motivational importance.
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Noddings: natural care and ethical care
Natural care: act towards those we love. Ethical care: we act towards others we do not feel natural care towards, natural care as a model
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Care ethics: abstraction and impartiality
Distances from ethical theories which reject role of emotion or, think we should be impartial. Our obligations come from those who we have caring relationships with
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Care ethics: universability
Rejects that we have the same ethical obligations to everyone. Primary and secondary. Noddings: we cannot care for everyone
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Care ethics: complexity
Focuses on the complexity of moral problems. Real world problems. Ethics cannot be systematised.
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Care ethics: right and duties
Limits our talk of rights and duties.
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Problems of care ethics: lack of measure
No rule to tell us what to do.
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Partiality
Less duty to those abroad. Noddings: I am not obliged to care for starving children in Africa as I would have to abandon those in a caring relationship with
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Relativity
Subjective and relativist. Noddings: the caring attitudes that lies at the heart of ethical behaviour is universal. But is this universality of sentiment sufficient?
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Social obligations
Prevents us from having duties towards large group, states, society, etc. Held: they are not as important
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Card 2

Front

No problem

Back

It is only natural that the philosophers reflected the nature of the time e.g. Aristotle and slavery. We are becoming more equal so more philosophy is being written by women

Card 3

Front

No problem: response

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Claims of (some) feminist ethics

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Claims of (some) feminist ethics: notes

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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