Virtue Ethics and Care Ethics

[Evan Hadkins]

Does anyone know of people integrating a virtue ethics and a care ethics?

I don't think we can come up with a comprehensive set of 'rules' adequate to life. Which means it is more about orientation and commitment. I think we should be able to elaborate a Christian virtue ethics and eudaemonism based on John.10:10 and a Christian care ethic based on love of neighbour.

Putting them together I find tricky - though I have given thought to 1Cor.12.

If anyone knows of people integrating a care and virtue approach I'd love to know who they are. Many thanks, Evan

 

[Sabertooth]

The terms "virtue ethics" and "care ethics" are new to me. Is that the same concept as getting what one deserves vs. getting what one needs?

 

[Evan Hadkins]

The 'virtue' in virtue ethics is an older sense of the word. What we'd call someone's passion, or perhaps essence. The thing that is their individuality. Rather than defining a code this ethics develops good people - whether an athlete or scholar or artist or accountant, as what fits with the persons individuality. A virtue is a talent in, the sense of a part of you, rather than just something you are good at.

Care ethics sees ethics as focused on the kind of relationship between people, rather than starting with individuals and then saying how they should relate to others. The ethical rightness of an interaction is judged by how caring it is. This can unite intention and behaviour: caring for another person involves both being concerned for them and putting in the work to help or benefit them.

Hoping this makes sense.

 

[Bob Crowley]

If I've understood correctly, to combine the two, you'd need to use your talents or gifts to benefit others.

So if you had a strong managerial streak, you could use it to push your way high up into the corporate world ("virtuously" using your talent, but to your own profit or in your owninterest).

Or you could use it, no doubt for much lower pay, to manage or administer a social enterprise, charity, sheltered workshop or some other service where you are helping others. That would be using channeling your "virtue" ethic towards a "care" ethic.

In the long run, I think our particular judgement, and therefore eternal destiny, will depend very much on how we've treated other people. Did we use our "virtues" to "care" for others?

That's assuming I've interpreted the terms correctly.

 

[Evan Hadkins]

I think you've got the sense of it.

It does affect how we do Christian education for instance.

 

[Paidiske]

I've done quite a bit of reading on virtue ethics, but "care ethics" is a new term to me. Is it perhaps known by another term?

 

[Evan Hadkins]

No, it's fairly new. It came out of Feminism - most of the writers in it (that I know of) are women.