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Virginia Held: Feminist Transformations of Moral Theory

question 17

Multiple Choice

Virginia Held: Feminist Transformations of Moral Theory
Held argues that the history of moral philosophy is deeply infected by male bias, so much so that even the main concepts of the discipline reflect a lack of respect for women's experiences. In particular, Held discusses three broad ideas in moral philosophy that she finds particularly problematic from a feminist perspective. The first is the traditional conception of the relationship between reason and emotion. Many philosophers have held that reason should play a primary role in ethics, either by discovering universal moral principles, or impartially calculating the costs and benefits of various actions. Against this, Held argues for giving the emotions a prominent role in our moral lives, especially the emotions of care that accompany close relationships.
Second, Held criticizes the traditional interpretation of the distinction between the public and the private. On this conception, "the public realm is seen as the distinctively human realm in which man transcends his animal nature, while the private realm of the household is seen as the natural region in which women merely reproduce the species." Held objects to this conception, and argues that motherhood equally "transcends animal nature," especially insofar as it involves helping children to develop as moral beings. Held finds the relationship of care implicit in motherhood to be of particular moral importance, and regards traditional moral philosophy as deficient for neglecting it.
Finally, Held critiques the common conception of the self as a rational individual, independent and largely self-interested. She argues that close attention to the experiences of women yields a conception of the self as deeply enmeshed in particular relationships in which self-interest and altruism are no longer easy to distinguish. Given these three instances of male bias, Held argues, moral philosophy is in need of a radical transformation to take adequate account of the experiences of women.
-Held argues that the very center of our moral and social thought ought to be concerned with the flourishing of:

Identify and describe basic ethical principles in healthcare.

Evaluate ethical issues within the context of nursing and healthcare.

Determine appropriate actions based on ethical principles in various healthcare scenarios.

Analyze the impact of ethical decision-making in nursing practice.

Definitions:

Friendships

Close, cooperative, and supportive relationships between two or more individuals not based on family bonds.

Social Support

Assistance and comfort received from others, which can be emotional, physical, or informational, contributing to an individual's well-being.

To finish, complete, or bring to an end.

Grown Children

Adults who have reached maturity and are often independent, but still maintain a filial relationship with their parents.