Deck 18: Feminist Ethics

Question 1

In what ways have Western philosophers traditionally marginalized and shown disrespect for women? How does feminist ethics seek to address this problem?

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

What are some of the distinctive experiences of women, and how have feminist ethicists suggested that these should inform our moral theorizing? Do you think they are correct in thinking this?

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

Compare and contrast the ethics of care with one of the ethical theories discussed previously. What advantages do you think the ethics of care has over the alternative theory you've chosen? In what ways is the other theory preferable? Which do you think is ultimately more satisfactory, and why?

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

Write an essay discussing the ethical value of impartiality. Why do feminists downplay the importance of impartiality, and why have other philosophers held it to be important? Is impartiality an important ethical value or not?

Question 5

Write an essay discussing the ethical concept of rights. What role has this concept traditionally played, and why do feminists think that it has been overemphasized? Do you agree with the feminist critique? Why or why not?

Question 6

What role do emotions play in feminist ethics? How does this differ from the way that emotions are regarded by other ethical theories? Do emotions play an essential role in morality? Defend your answer.

Question 7

Carol Gilligan claimed that

A) women tend to respond to moral conflict differently from men.
B) women are innately more compassionate than men.
C) all women share a common approach to morality.
D) men tend to be more morally developed than women.

Question 8

Carol Gilligan noted that many women never advance beyond which of Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development?

A) The stage of seeing moral rules as potential threats
B) The stage of viewing morality as dependent upon our social roles and relations
C) The stage of viewing morality as a tool for maintaining social order
D) The stage of viewing morality as requiring obedience to abstract rules of justice

Question 9

Which feature of the moral life is highlighted by feminist ethics?

A) The importance of vulnerability
B) The importance of not having control over important aspects of one's life
C) The importance of dependence and connectedness to others
D) All of the above

Question 10

According to the text, which author allowed feminist ethics to "come into its own"?

A) John Stuart Mill
B) Susan B. Anthony
C) Carol Gilligan
D) Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Question 11

Which claim did Carol Gilligan argue for in In a Different Voice?

A) Women's psychologies are innately different than men's.
B) Women tend to react to moral conflict differently from men.
C) All women share a common moral outlook.
D) All of the above

Question 12

How do feminists claim we can come to have moral knowledge?

A) By impartially considering interests
B) By rationally calculating what would be most beneficial to oneself
C) By reliably applying moral rules
D) By sensitively considering the particular circumstances