Deck 18: The Ethics of Care Virginia Held

Question 1

According to Held, the central focus of the ethics of care is attending to and meeting the needs of

A) the particular others for whom we take responsibility.
B) the least advantaged members of society.
C) all people.
D) None of the above

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Proponents of the ethics of care often object to the dominant moral theories as

A) impractical.
B) emotionalistic.
C) egoistic.
D) All of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Held understands care as

A) a value.
B) a practice.
C) both a value and a practice.
D) neither a value nor a practice.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The ethics of care stresses

A) actual relations between particular human beings.
B) global human welfare.
C) the greatest good for the greatest number.
D) universal reason.

Question 5

According to the ethics of care, someone in a genuinely caring relationship acts

A) out of altruistic intentions.
B) in accordance with abstract principles.
C) out of love for all humanity.
D) for self-and-other together.

Question 6

Held explains that the core concept of the ethics of care is

A) providing for basic human necessities like food and shelter.
B) human interdependency and relatedness.
C) practical deliberation among equals.
D) the pursuit of knowledge and innovation.

Question 7

Held claims that persons in caring relations are acting for

A) themselves.
B) particular others.
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

Question 8

Held claims that the ethics of care starts with the moral claims of particular others.

Question 9

The ethics of care values emotion as an aid to discerning what morality recommends.

Question 10

By "care," Held means the benevolent disposition of one individual toward another.

Question 11

According to the ethics of care, impartiality is a fundamental criterion of correct moral reasoning.

Question 12

The ethics of care is interested in describing, but not evaluating, the various aspects of care and caring relations.

Question 13

According to Held, the ethics of care is an ancient doctrine.

Question 14

Held believes that empathy can become excessive.

Question 15

What makes the ethics of care of different from other moral theories? Do you see it as an appropriate approach to moral problems? Why or why not?

Question 16

What role does emotion play in the ethics of care? How does Held conceive its relation to reason in ethical deliberation?

Question 17

According to Held, care ethics places significant weight on the emotions. Why does Held think the emotions are important to proper thinking about morality? Do you agree with her argument? Why or why not?

Question 18

Held claims that, unlike dominant moral theories, care ethics does not try to abstract or universalize; rather, it focuses on attending to the needs of particular, dependent others. Do you think this is a virtue of the theory or a vice? Explain your answer.