Unit 1: Care Ethics – Introduction
Part 1: Meaning and Nature of Care Ethics
Origin and Background
Care Ethics, also known as the Ethics of Care, emerged in the 1980s as a response to traditional
moral theories that prioritized abstract principles over lived human experiences. It was first
developed by Carol Gilligan in her influential book In a Different Voice (1982). Gilligan's work
challenged the existing models of moral development proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, which
emphasized justice, autonomy, and abstract reasoning—values associated with a traditionally
male perspective.
Gilligan observed that women often reason about moral problems by focusing on relationships,
responsibilities, and care, rather than detached rules or rights. She argued that this “different
voice” of moral reasoning had been unfairly marginalized.
Definition and Core Concepts
Care ethics is a relational, context-based ethical theory that emphasizes:
- The importance of interpersonal relationships in moral reasoning.
- The moral significance of care, empathy, compassion, and responsiveness.
- The rejection of impartiality in favor of attentiveness to specific needs and circumstances.
Rather than viewing individuals as isolated moral agents, care ethics understands them as
embedded within webs of relationships and dependent on others for emotional, physical, and
social well-being.
Key Characteristics
1. Relational Approach: Ethics is grounded in the interdependence between people rather than
in individual autonomy.
2. Emotion as Moral Insight: Emotions like empathy, love, and concern are viewed as legitimate
sources of moral knowledge.
3. Particularism: Care ethics favors context-sensitive judgments over universal rules.
4. Responsiveness: Moral action involves responding to the needs of particular others in specific
situations.
5. Rejection of Abstract Universality: Unlike deontology or utilitarianism, care ethics does not
aim for a “one size fits all” principle.
Part 2: Care Ethics and Its Unique Methodology
Difference from Traditional Ethical Theories
Care Ethics differs significantly from the three dominant Western ethical theories—Deontology,
Utilitarianism, and Virtue Ethics—in both methodology and moral priorities.
Traditional ethical theories:
Example
Theory Focus Methodology
Thinkers
Reason-based, rule-
Deontology Duty, rules, universal moral laws Kant
following
Consequences, maximizing
Utilitarianism Calculative, impartial Bentham, Mill
happiness
Virtue Ethics Developing moral character Cultivating virtues Aristotle
Care Ethics differs because it:
Centers emotional understanding, not just rational reasoning.
Stresses context and relationships over universalism.
Focuses on specific individuals and situational responses, rather than impartial moral
agents.
Summary Table: Key Differences
Feature Care Ethics Deontology Utilitarianism
Relationships, care,
Focus Duties, rules Outcomes, happiness
empathy
Embedded in
Moral Agent Rational individual Neutral calculator
relationships
Method Contextual, emotional Rule-based reasoning Cost-benefit analysis
View on Often irrelevant or Secondary, sometimes
Central and positive
Emotion dangerous helpful
View on
Acceptable Problematic Problematic
Partiality
Care Ethics as a Methodology
Care Ethics offers an alternative methodological framework to traditional moral theories:
- Contextualism: Moral decisions must be made in context, not through abstract rules.
- Narrative understanding: Focus on life stories and personal experiences.
- Moral perception: Attunement to others’ needs and vulnerabilities.
- Empathy and Attentiveness: These are not just emotional responses but important tools for
moral discernment.
Important Thinkers and Texts
1. Carol Gilligan – In a Different Voice (1982)
Gilligan’s work is foundational to care ethics. She argues that traditional moral theories—
especially those of Kohlberg—privilege a 'male' orientation toward justice and rights, while
overlooking a 'female' orientation toward care and responsibility.
Key Points:
- Morality is not a single, universal voice but plural.
- Women often show a relational ethic based on care and connection.
- The 'ethic of care' is not less developed than justice—it is different.
- Both justice and care are valid moral perspectives, and society benefits from acknowledging
both.
Core Concept: The 'different voice' in moral reasoning—focused on connection, not separation.
2. Milton Mayeroff – On Caring (1971)
Mayeroff presents a philosophical account of what it means to truly care for another. His
approach adds depth to the ethical concept of care, viewing it as both a practice and a moral
ideal.
Key Points:
- Caring is helping another person grow and actualize themselves.
- It requires more than affection—it involves knowledge, commitment, and trust.
- Caring is reciprocal, evolving through the relationship between the carer and the cared-for.
Essential Elements of Caring:
1. Knowing the other person.
2. Alternating rhythm (flexibility in response).
3. Patience.
4. Honesty.
5. Trust.
6. Hope.
7. Humility.
Caring is not a fixed set of actions, but a way of being that prioritizes the other’s well-being in a
holistic sense.
3. Michael Slote – The Ethics of Care and Empathy (2007)
Slote further develops care ethics by grounding it in the psychological capacity for empathy. He
presents care ethics as a viable normative theory, not just a feminist critique.
Key Points:
- Empathy is the moral guide in care ethics.
- Emotions are not only valid, but essential to moral understanding.
- Moral maturity means developing one’s capacity to feel with others, not simply to apply rules.
- Partiality is natural and morally justifiable—especially in familial and social relationships.
Slote’s contribution makes care ethics more psychologically realistic and normatively robust,
capable of handling both personal and social moral challenges.
Conclusion
Care Ethics offers a powerful alternative to traditional moral theories by placing human
relationships, emotions, and contextual responses at the center of moral life. It challenges the
assumption that reason and impartiality are the highest moral ideals, instead showing that
empathy, care, and attentiveness are equally essential to ethical decision-making.
By drawing on the voices of Gilligan, Mayeroff, and Slote, care ethics emerges not only as a
feminist intervention, but as a comprehensive and compelling moral theory that resonates with
everyday ethical experiences in families, communities, and professions like nursing, education,
and social work.
