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Care Ethics and its Comparison with Moral Theories

Care ethics, also known as ethics of care, is a feminist philosophical perspective that

determines morality and decision-making using relational and context-bound approach. It

combines the aspects of morality and normative ethical theory. Care ethics supports certain

perspectives, which are contrary to the ethical theories. Ethical theories rely on principles to

determine moral actions. Baier and Held argue that care ethics is a distinct model theory from

Kantian deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue (Baier pg. 162; Held pg.189). According to

them, care ethics is not meant to be absolute and inconvertible like is evident in the other

theories. The two proponents of care ethics further argue that it concentrates on changing

ethics for better. It improves ethical theorizing and develops approaches that can handle

issues including those that involve gender. The focus of this essay is to determine the

differences in the concepts of care ethics, and the theories of deontology and utilitarianism.

Deontological theory states that there is a strong relationship between duty and

morality. It majorly focuses on people’s actions and not the consequences of those actions.

According to Kant, people should do the right thing because it is the right thing to do

(Lecture Week 7). Conversely, people should avoid doing wrong because it is wrong to do it.

Utilitarianism, on the other hand, focuses on consequences of people’s actions. It argues

portrays happiness as the component of human life with true intrinsic value. It holds that

actions are right as long as that they promote happiness. If such actions promote unhappiness,

then it is wrong. I do not agree with deontological and utilitarianism theories since they only
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focus on one dimension. As Held (pg.189) described, morality should focus on multi-

dimensional perspectives of the caregiver and the person being care for.

The fundamental distinction of care ethics to the other two theories is relations.

According to Baier, a caring relation has to consist of at least two people (Baier pg.163). That

is, the “one-caring” and the “cared-for.” The influenced-based relationship is between two

people, whereby the action of one person affects the other person. Before a person acts, he or

she has to determine whether his or her action with affect the other person in the relationship.

The relationship perspective is in great contrast to Kantian deontology, which proposes that

as long a person does what he or she thinks is right; it is justifiable to be moral. Care ethics

combines both action and consequence (Lecture Week 7). The caring person and the one

cared for exhibit reciprocal commitment to the well being of one another. The person

carrying out a certain action must do so in response to a perceived need of the individual

being cared for. Care ethics promote an action that is motivated by an apprehension of

another person (Held pg.190). It prevents a person from acting as if he or she is living in a

solitary place with no other people. According deontological theory, it is the person

performing the action to determine whether it is right or wrong. The action does not rely on

another person. On the other hand, utilitarian theory relates morality to the consequences of

an action. It also depends on a person. For instance, if an action contributes to his or her

happiness, then it is morally right. The two theories limit the aspect of commitment of

everyone towards the good and well-being of one another. They lack the emotional

integration in an action and consequence (Held pg.193). They focus on individual

gratification. However, an appropriate determination of morality should depend on all the

parties involved. Each of the parties should show commitment and attain an equal good.

Care ethics depict trust as the fundamental moral notion. According to Baier, laws or

rules should not be the determinant of morality (Presentation, Week 8). He pointed out that
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the subject of morality needs more than justice. This is contrary to the deontology and

utilitarian theories, which principally stems from the theories of justice. Held (pg.192)

pointed out that justice as a standard of morality does not provide a wholesome representation

of diverse groups. For instance, black people and women have consistently challenged the

two theories because they fail to completely address the issue of justice, as should be the

case. These diverse groups claim that racists and sexist thinkers have taken the view of justice

and excluded them. From this perspective, it is noticeable that the theorization of justice does

not address the real issues in the society completely. It remains that justice is not the first

virtue of social institutions. Justice is simply a virtue of social institutions among many other

equal components. Trust emerges as the first virtue of social institutions as it entails the

involvement of everyone in determining justice. According to Held, valued care and mutual

concern is the most important component of moral consideration (Presentation, Week 8). It

supersedes the laws and rules set by the deontological and utilitarianism theories. The

absence of valued care and mutual concern makes it difficult to undertake right actions or be

happy. It often infringes the happiness of other people. I agree with Baier’s idea that the best

morality theory is one that harmonizes justice and care.

As Held asserts, moral responsibility is critical component of ethics. In her description

of care ethics, she points out that a moral person assumes moral responsibility (Held pg.194).

She further denotes that a moral person should be able to reflect, make choices, and act based

on reasoning. Using a case study of children as moral subjects, Held holds that they

understand the moral significance of their behavior when they fully grow and develop (Held

pg.193). The other moral subject is identities, which shape people’s relationship to moral

subjectivity. Care ethics consider an individual as a social being with the autonomy and

capacity to constitute communal traditions and norms. According to held, complex

intersecting social factors such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, and community and family
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ties shape persons (Lecture Week 8). The moral concerns of a person depend on these

relationships. Contrarily, deontology does not rely on these relationships to carry out an

action. It focuses on the person carrying out the action. However, it is impossible to attain a

moral concern without considering other people. A complete moral responsibility is

dependent on all diverse components, which affect it. It cannot survive on its own (Held

pg.193). Relationships form commitments, which is the background of moral responsibility.

Care ethics differs significantly with deontology and utilitarianism. Care ethics

considers the action, consequence and relationship to other components. The primary

components of differences encompass relationship, trust, commitment, and moral

responsibility. These aspects are unique components of the care ethics, which the two other

theories do not address.