PHI 2604: Chapter 8: Feminist Ethics and the Ethics of Care QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PHI 2604: Chapter 8: Feminist Ethics and the Ethics of Care QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS In the 1980s, Carol Gilligan distinguished between the ethic of justice and the ethic of care. Gilligan associated the ethic of justice with the way men think about morality, and the ethic of care with the way women think about morality. Which of the following most accurately describes how Gilligan's research is interpreted today? - ANSWER Men typically reasoned according to the ethic of justice; women typically accepted the ethic of care. Care ethics has many similarities to virtue ethics. In fact, one way to argue that care ethics captures important aspects of morality is to argue that virtue ethics captures important aspects of morality. Such an argument would look like this: - ANSWER The virtues are an important part of the moral life. Compassion, kindness, and other forms of care are virtues. Therefore, care is an important part of the moral life. Feminist ethicists argue that traditional philosophy primarily represented men's lives and excluded women's experiences. Which aspects of Bentham's ethics, described below, are compatible with feminist ethics? Which are not compatible? - ANSWER Aspects of Bentham's Ethics Compatible with Feminist Ethics Bentham claims that emotion, specifically happiness, is the only thing that is intrinsically good., Bentham argues that our concern should be for the well-being of everyone in the community whom our actions can affect. Aspects of Bentham's Ethics Not Compatible with Feminist Ethics Bentham says that those we are close to do not intrinsically merit more of our moral concern than strangers., Bentham emphasizes the product of an action over the process of the action. Feminist ethicists have argued that values associated with femininity have been neglected by philosophers; one example is the value of emotion. Traditionally, emotions have been regarded as irrational, and thus obstacles to moral insight instead of sources of moral insight. Which of the following philosophers has viewed emotions this way? - ANSWER Immanuel Kant Which of the following most accurately describes the perspective care ethics has on the ethic of justice? - ANSWER An ethic of justice is an important but incomplete approach to morality. Which of the following are accurate descriptions of feminist ethics? Which are not? - ANSWER Accurate