You enter a room filled with people recuperating on chairs and beds. “This room is packed! This clinic must be well-known for the quality of care,” you remark to Nurse Baier.
Nurse Baier replies, “We take care of everyone from all parts of the land – even those with whom we might not agree or even those who do not value the importance of our theories.”
Nurse Baier’s comment elicits a protest from the back of the room. “People in my community value care!” one of the patients retorts. “I am part of the Kantian community, and we believe in universal principles such as treating others as persons with intrinsic self-worth and dignity. Why can’t care and compassion be universal principles? Then caring would be our duty.”
“I, too, respect the value of care,” another patient rejoins. “As a Utilitarian, I see caring as a positive step towards promoting happiness and harmony. Because it promotes overall happiness, caring is part of what we consider to be good and should be maximized.”
Nurse Baier quickly retorts, “The ethics of care is not based on universal principles or maximizing the amount of caring. Relationships and human interaction are at the forefront of our theories. We base our theories on nurturing and compassion, and we recognize that there is a basic interdependency among human beings and thus a need to care for one another. While everyone in this room values human life, in our care-based philosophy, we base the ‘good’ in our treatment of fellow human beings, without prejudice, and supporting the needs of those less fortunate then ourselves.”
“This is all boloney!” an irritated female patient exclaims. “All day long, you doctors and nurses have been talking about the female point of view and how caring is a part of a feminine perspective. Don’t you realize how ridiculous that is? By categorizing care ethics as a type of feminine ethics, you are just reinforcing the stereotype of women as caregivers and men as incapable of giving care. Of course, female voices need to be heard in the realm of ethics, but females don’t speak with one voice. In my community, we follow the teachings of a powerful female: Ayn Rand. She doesn’t teach us this touchy-feely nonsense.”
“Well, you don’t have to get in a huff! I certainly consider myself to be an independent, strong woman. So I don’t think care ethics makes me soft. But, I will concede that care ethics might reinforce typical gender roles. However, I am very careful to point out that ‘maternal persons’ who have the role of caring can be men or women.” Baier continues, clearly also in a huff. “In response to your particular views modeled on those of Rand, what is wrong with empathy and caring for each other within an economy and within a governmental structure? I’d ask you to consider how capitalism and traditional power roles affect women and degrade the importance of caring in society.”
The other patients in the recovery room sit in a stunned silence as these two powerful women with very different philosophies square off. You are not sure if you dare to speak, but the stony silence is comfortable and you really want to get on with the journey. Feeling a bit awkward, you stammer, “Umm, th-thank you for the great lessons. Seriously, both of you. Umm…my knee feels so much better, again I thank you. I really need to get going, so umm, Nurse Baier, could you please administer my quiz?”
“I’d be happy to.” Nurse Baier throws a stony glance over her shoulder at the other female patient. She hustles you out of the room and begins the list of questions as you hobble down the hallway.
