A Feminist View of A Feminist View of EthicsEthics

And the role of FriendshipAnd the role of Friendship

Ethics of CareEthics of Care

Carol Gilligan’s work on the ‘Carol Gilligan’s work on the ‘ethics of careethics of care’ ’ characterizes experiences or women, instead characterizes experiences or women, instead of the ‘of the ‘ethics of justice and rightsethics of justice and rights’’

Ethics of care holds that ‘sympathy’ and Ethics of care holds that ‘sympathy’ and ‘caring’ should be the most important virtues ‘caring’ should be the most important virtues and should ground morality.and should ground morality.

Instead of moral obligations, people (but Instead of moral obligations, people (but most importantly women) take a caring most importantly women) take a caring response in all situations to be the basis of response in all situations to be the basis of their morality.their morality.

Care of JusticeCare of Justice

Are we perpetrating sex oppression if Are we perpetrating sex oppression if we designate ethics of care to ALL we designate ethics of care to ALL women and ethics of justice to ALL women and ethics of justice to ALL men?men?

Are we correct to say that one is Are we correct to say that one is better than the other?better than the other?

Perhaps we need a different basis for Perhaps we need a different basis for morality. morality.

Women’s positionWomen’s position

Historically, women have been designated Historically, women have been designated to be the caretakers in patriarchal society.to be the caretakers in patriarchal society.

This might have lead women to develop This might have lead women to develop and foster relationships and friendships in and foster relationships and friendships in a different way than men did.a different way than men did.

Should we maybe think about morality in Should we maybe think about morality in terms of that? In terms of ‘relationships’, terms of that? In terms of ‘relationships’, rather than justice and care?rather than justice and care?

Women- special goodnessWomen- special goodness

Women are often cited as having a Women are often cited as having a special quality of ‘goodnessspecial quality of ‘goodness’ about ’ about them: they are caring, sensitive to othersthem: they are caring, sensitive to others

Schopenhauer: “The very thought of Schopenhauer: “The very thought of seeing women administer justice raises a seeing women administer justice raises a laugh.”laugh.”

““Women are much less capable to Women are much less capable to understanding and sticking to universal understanding and sticking to universal principles”. But their virtues of principles”. But their virtues of ‘lovingkindness’ surpass men. The origin ‘lovingkindness’ surpass men. The origin of this virtue is : intuition.of this virtue is : intuition.

KantKant

According to Kant, women can’t stick According to Kant, women can’t stick to principles. Because they follow to principles. Because they follow their feelings and sensations more. their feelings and sensations more.

For Kant, morality is based on For Kant, morality is based on principles, even good women lack principles, even good women lack moral character.moral character.

Different but Valuable?Different but Valuable?

Does the view that women have a Does the view that women have a better ability to ‘care’ present a better ability to ‘care’ present a ‘romantic picture’ of women?‘romantic picture’ of women?

Do women under such view become Do women under such view become morally deformed and oppressed?morally deformed and oppressed?

Do uneducated, powerless and Do uneducated, powerless and abused women have a special kind of abused women have a special kind of goodness?goodness?

Two ethicsTwo ethics

It appears that we have two opposing It appears that we have two opposing views of ethics: ‘women’s ethics’ and views of ethics: ‘women’s ethics’ and ‘men’s ethics’.‘men’s ethics’.

This doesn’t seem right. This doesn’t seem right. When we take ‘friendship’ as the When we take ‘friendship’ as the

basis of morality, we find that in it basis of morality, we find that in it both ‘fairness’ and ‘caring’ are both ‘fairness’ and ‘caring’ are present.present.

FriendshipFriendship

A good friendship is about fair A good friendship is about fair divisiondivision

It requires responsiveness It requires responsiveness In friendship we have not need for In friendship we have not need for

justice (Aristotle) justice (Aristotle) That is, if justice suggests That is, if justice suggests

enforcement of some rules.enforcement of some rules.

FriendshipFriendship

Being connected and caring for women Being connected and caring for women can lead to low self-esteem.can lead to low self-esteem.

But if we take friendship as the basic But if we take friendship as the basic value, and if we identify ourselves value, and if we identify ourselves through friendship, we strengthen our through friendship, we strengthen our self-esteem.self-esteem.

Formal, informal, personal relationships Formal, informal, personal relationships are the building blocks of our lives. So, are the building blocks of our lives. So, friendship seems to be a good candidate friendship seems to be a good candidate to learn more about moral theory.to learn more about moral theory.