Caring: An Essay in the Philosophy of EthicsThis book offers a model of human agency and motivation in order to argue that ethics is based upon our ontological nature as human beings. The central thesis of this book is that caring is a primordial structure of human existence that takes two forms: caring for self and caring for others. This dual form of caring is expressed in a variety of ways and functions at four levels: (1) a biological level, at which caring is expressed as instincts for survival and nurturing; (2) a perceptual, reactive level, at which caring is expressed as emotion and as cultural constructions of our world; (3) an evaluative, proactive level, at which caring is expressed as pragmatic projects and social forms of solidarity; and (4) a spiritual level, at which caring is expressed as religion, ethics, and morality. From this analysis, author Stan van Hooft concludes that traditional notions of morality as obligatory should give way to an understanding of ethics as the social forms given to our caring for ourselves and others. In addition to presenting discussions in professional philosophy, van Hooft hopes to reach readers working in caring professions such as health, social work, and education, in order that such workers might feel less bound by a rule-governed conception of morality. |
Common terms and phrases
acknowledge action action-guiding arrangements agents argue arise Aristotle attitudes basis Bernard Williams biological level caring as self-project caring-about causal Chapter choice commitment communication conflict constitute context cultural formation deep caring described desire determinable dilemma E. O. Wilson ethical discourse ethos Eudaimonia existential expression external reasons faith feel fourth level freedom fulfillment function goals grounded ideals important infinity insofar instincts integrity intentional intentional object involves Jean-Paul Sartre language Levinas lives matter meaning meaningful ment mental activities mental disposition mitment moral realism moral theory motivational Nicomachean Ethics norms notion object one's ontological orientation ourselves person Peter Singer phenomenological Philosophy phronesis preconscious prereflexive primordial caring rational recognise reflection reflexive relation relationships responsibility Richard Wollheim Sartre seek self-project and caring-about-others sense shared simply situation social society sociobiology solidarity spiritual level stance Stuart Hampshire suggest things thinking third level tion traditional understand Wollheim's