Discussion Questions for the Ethics of Care article by Virginia Held
1. How does the ethics of care (EOC) differ from the other moral theories we
have covered (utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics)?
a. The answer to this question can be found throughout the entire
article, including in the “features of EOC” section, which is asked about
in the next question, so focus on the main or general difference
between EOC and the other theories.
2. Describe the first four features/characteristic of the Ethics of Care and give
an example of how those features can be applied in your life.
3. Give an example when caring can be harmful or misguided. What would Held
recommend in such situations?
4. Describe the EOC conception of a person (the fifth characteristic of EOC).
How does this conception differ from that of the other moral theories?
5. What does Held mean when she states, “our relations are part of what
constitute our identity”? Do you agree with her statement?