Feminism and the Ethics of Care

Do Women and Men Think Differently about Ethics?

1. Gilligan on Kohlberg’s Moral Reasoning

1. Heinz’s dilemma

i. Pre-conventional (rooted in individual needs of others)

ii. Conventional (rooted in social conventions)

iii. Post-conventional (rooted in universal principles)

2. Different ≠ deficient

2. Explaining the difference

1. Enculturation

2. Evolutionary psychology

Can Ethics of Care replace traditional ethics?

A. Family & friends,

B. Disadvantaged children, &

C. Animals

Implications for Moral Judgment and for Ethical Theory

1. Gives a better account (of at least some) of our actual moral motivations

1. Appropriate feelings vs. abstract duties

2. Avoids the dubious ideal of impartiality

1. Stresses particularities and difference

3. Corrects for male bias of traditional theories

1. Doing one’s duty vs. Being a certain kind of person

4. Two Ethical Spheres?

1. Public life: justice, duty (traditional ethical theory)

2. Private life: love, care (virtue theory)

	Justice Perspective (male)	Care Perspective (female)
Values	Separation & Autonomy	Connectedness
Thinks	Formally & abstractly	Contextually
Morality is about	Fairness	Care
Mediates conflict via	Logic and Law	Communication
Judgments focus on	Impartial principles	The needs of others