Episode #168 - Introduction to an Ethics of Care
Introduction to an Ethics of Care
In this episode, the origins and development of the ethics of care are traced through the work of Carol Gilligan, who challenged traditional models of moral development dominated by male-centric perspectives. Reacting to Lawrence Kohlberg’s scale of moral reasoning—which favored abstract principles like justice—Gilligan argued that these models overlooked the relational and context-sensitive ways in which many women navigate ethical dilemmas. Through her analysis of the Heinz dilemma and the differing responses of Jake and Amy, Gilligan introduced a new moral lens centered on empathy, interdependence, and care. This perspective critiques the notion of the autonomous, rational moral subject and instead emphasizes attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness, and plurality as foundational virtues. By elevating care from the private to the public sphere, Gilligan and philosophers like Virginia Held and Joan Tronto assert that caring is not just a feminine trait or domestic concern—it’s a vital moral framework with the potential to reshape society’s ethical priorities on a systemic level.
Further Reading:
The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky (2023)
The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload by Daniel J. Levitin (2014)
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman (2011)
See the full transcript here.
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