Philosophy

Philosophy Study Guide

given situation. Even when well intentioned, if we are intent on imposing our own ideas before attempting to achieve a deep and empathetic understanding of what the other person is thinking and feeling the we are not caring in an authentic way. Genuine caring suggests acting on our feelings when we take on the other’s reality as a possibility and begin to feel its reality. The next natural step is to try to do something to express our caring because it feels as if we are doing it for ourselves because the boundary between our self and the other self is being erased. Caring varies from person to person and relationship to relationship and Noddings believed that universal caring is an empty concept and that there are two concepts to caring that qualify a moral response. Natural caring that occurs in humans toward children, parents, and other close family members and may extend to intimate romantic relationships as well as close friendships. Ethical caring involves natural caring but takes it a step further to directing your caring toward others to whom you do not naturally experience caring feelings. The ethical ideal for Noddings is the image of the best of ourselves when we are caring and being cared for, deeply and authentically. It is this ethical ideal that we strive for when we experience the call of moral obligation. The ethics of care holds that our individual ethical actions are motivated by what Noddings defines as a caring response rooted in natural caring. 9.14 Making Connections: Your Moral Compass Revisited The ultimate goal of moral philosophy is to use these moral theories to calibrate accurately our moral compasses, sharpen our moral intuitions, and refine our moral consciences. When faced with moral decisions and ethical issues, we will choose confidently with decisions that are wise, enlightened, and justified. The application of these theories, the moral elements of consequences, maxims, and character are dynamically interrelated. Moral values are defined by the reflectively chosen actions we take with the full awareness that we are responsible for the consequences of these free choices.

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