Deck 8: Feminist Ethics and the Ethics of Care

Question 1

Alison M. Jaggar writes that Western moral theory has tended to

A) prioritize virtue ethics.
B) emphasize character traits usually associated with women.
C) ignore "masculine" values.
D) embody "masculine" values.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

One hard fact that feminist ethicists are responding to is that, even today, most women in the world are viewed as

A) more ethical than men.
B) more important than men.
C) equal citizens.
D) second-class citizens.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Franco has decided he wants to adopt the ethics of care. He is now deliberating about whether to voice a controversial view during a get-together with his family. In order to apply the ethics of care, he should focus more on how

A) his right to free speech would be affected by his decision.
B) his autonomy would be violated if he decided to stay silent.
C) his opinion might negatively affect family members he cares about.
D) he should follow certain rules.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

All feminist ethicists reject the traditional role played by principles in moral reasoning.

Question 5

Most of the great ethical theorists of the past have assumed that women are morally inferior to men-that is, less mature, less important, and less rational than men.

Question 6

Suppose a Kantian says that we are never morally permitted to lie. An ethicist of care would

A) disagree in cases where telling the truth would unnecessarily make an innocent person suffer.
B) disagree in cases where lying could benefit the decision maker.
C) agree because lying is always a result of not caring enough.
D) agree because lying would never be the compassionate thing to do.

Question 7

Feminist ethics is a moral theory.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of ideal theories of ethics that feminist thinkers have criticized?

A) They assume that the world consists of atomistic individuals with perfect rationality.
B) They conceive of individuals living in a society without oppression.
C) They depict individuals as having contempt for women.
D) They characterize moral agents as unaffected by poor living conditions and unjust institutions.

Question 9

Carol Gilligan calls the approach to ethics that focuses on being aware of people's feelings, needs, and viewpoints

A) virtue ethics.
B) the ethic of care.
C) the greatest happiness principle.
D) the categorical imperative.

Question 10

The psychologist Carol Gilligan upended the belief that men and women think in radically different ways when making moral decisions when she argued that men and women think in exactly the same ways about morality.

Question 11

One of the implications of assuming an idealized view of human beings is that one is unable to

A) recognize morally right actions.
B) follow social rules intended for the benefit of all.
C) maintain meaningful personal relationships.
D) acknowledge oppression and poverty when it is present.

Question 12

Virginia Held insists that moralities built on the image of the independent, autonomous, rational individual are clear and powerful ways of thinking about ethics.

Question 13

We are naturally impartial toward the interests of our friends and family, which, according to feminist philosophers, is a reason to adopt the ethical theories of Kant and Mill.

Question 14

The ethics of care is a perspective on ethics that highlights the

A) need for ethics in health care.
B) insignificance of ethics in caring for others.
C) lack of male perspectives in ethics.
D) importance of personal relationships and virtues such as compassion and kindness.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT true of the ethic of care?

A) It is a reminder that caring is a vital and inescapable part of the moral life.
B) It is an example of feminist ethics.
C) It contrasts dramatically with traditional moral theories preoccupied with principles and legalistic moral reasoning.
D) It emphasizes rule-following, especially rules found in codes of ethics.

Question 16

Julie considers herself an advocate of feminist ethics. Therefore, she should

A) support the moral equality of men and women.
B) advocate for the superiority of women over men.
C) reject all moral principles in favor of gut feelings.
D) disregard all psychological evidence about differences between men and women.

Question 17

Annette C. Baier argues that in moral theory there is a place for both

A) care and justice.
B) justice and consequences.
C) care and virtue.
D) virtue and consequences.

Question 18

Feminist ethics narrows the area of moral concern from what we call "public life" to the interconnected and familiar small group-the people with whom we have close personal relationships.

Question 19

The most obvious example of a relationship that is the focus of the ethics of care would be

A) caring about whether people think you're smart.
B) caring for one's child.
C) taking care of an antique car.
D) caring about the pollution levels in the air.

Question 20

Feminist ethicists argue that the ________ sphere be given at least as much consideration in morality as the sphere of the public.

A) legal
B) religious
C) historical
D) private

Question 21

Unlike Kant, who maintained that reason is all that is necessary for making moral decisions, feminist ethicists insist that emotion should play a role, too.

Question 22

________ is an approach to ethics focused on women's interests and experiences.

Question 23

Carol Gilligan called the approach to morality that emphasized rights and rules over caring and relationships an ethic of ________.

Question 24

The role played in moral theories of the principle of ________, which says that from the moral point of view, all persons are considered equal and should be treated accordingly, is called into question by feminist ethicists.

Question 25

The ethics of care might be thought of as an essential element of virtue ethics.