PHIL 2525 Lec 18
Feminism and the Ethics of Care
PHIL 2525 Lec 18
Feminism and the Ethics of Care
Tomboys and sissies....
Taylor Pugh: returned to
pre-K with his hair in
French braids....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/17/taylorpugh-4yearold-texa_n_395550.html
Tomboys and
sissies....
`My son is gay. Or
he`s not. I don`t care.
He is still my son. And
he is 5. And I am his
mother. And if you
have a problem with
anything mentioned
above, I don’t want to
know you.
1973: Kohlberg’s Morality Scale
Three levels of moral reasoning
through which humans proceed:
Pre-conventional
Conventional
Post-conventional levels
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
Kohlberg theorized that there is an
inherited potential in each of us to
recognize when we or others are
being treated unfairly.
The principle of justice.
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
1. Punishment and Obedience stage:
Self-centeredness
is the rule.
Pleasure and pain
are the way we
judge experience..
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
2. Instrumental Exchange:
Negotiating
trade-offs and
deals comes
into the picture.
Still focused on
the self, though.
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
3. Interpersonal Conformity:
Learning the norms
and seeking out the
approval of others.
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
4. Social System and Conscience
Maintenance:
The approval of society
is a priority. Following
rules seems to be
the best way.
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
5. Prior Rights and Social Contract:
Avoiding harm
and doing good
become the
focus…even trying
to make the world
a better place.
Kohlberg’s Moral Scale:
6. Universal Ethical Principles:
While obedience to
social rules is important,
the principles of universal
justice always trump
mere social rules.
Harriet Tubman
Jake and Amy and the Drugstore
1982: Gender
differences in moral
reasoning...
1982: Gilligan’s
ETHICS OF CARE
1. Individual Survival: Here the
reasoning is limited strictly to concern
for herself.
T1. Transition from selfishness to
responsibility.
1982: Gilligan`s ETHICS OF CARE
2. Self-Sacrifice and Social Conformity: At
this stage there is an increased sense of
responsibility and concern for others.
T2. Transition From
Goodness to truth.
1982: Gilligan’s ETHICS OF CARE
3. Morality of Nonviolence: Here the
female does not feel powerless, but learns
to "verify her capacity for individual
judgment and the legitimacy of her own
view."
Justice versus Caring
Male approaches favour the application of
rules and rationality
Female approaches favour appeal to
emotion
Justice versus Caring
Male approaches favour the application of
rules and rationality
Female approaches favour appeal to
emotion
But how true is this really?
But how true is this really?
Not entirely. But to the extent that it
is...there are two explanations:
– Socialization
– Evolution
Nel Noddings
Caring as a foundation for
ethical decision-making...
Building an ethical ideal....
(the kind of
person you
want to be)
Nel Noddings
Distinction between
Caring for...
Caring about...
1984
Nel Noddings
“[In my writing] I have brushed aside
‘caring about’....It is too easy. I can ‘care
about’ the starving children of Cambodia,
send five dollars to hunger relief, and feel
somewhat satisfied.....This is a poor
second cousin to ‘caring for.’”
11.2: Implications for moral judgement...
Family and friends:
Children with HIV:
Animals:
11.3: Implications for ethical theory...
The parable of
the white
crow...
The Moles and the Porcupine...
To my future grandkids in 2020
Franke James
Photographs, illustrations and text by Franke James, MFA
Letter to my Future Grandkids in 2020 �
2007 Franke James