Theory & Philosophy “Care Ethics: A Conversation with Maurice Hamington”
13 snips
Jul 6, 2024 Maurice Hamington, a philosopher and professor at Portland State University, explores his latest book, Revolutionary Care: Commitment and Ethos. He contrasts care ethics with traditional moral theories like utilitarianism, emphasizing its feminist roots and the influence of thinkers like Carol Gilligan. The conversation highlights global care traditions, including those from marginalized communities, and discusses the transformative potential of care as a political force. Hamington also advocates for nonideal morality and the revolutionary changes small acts of care can bring.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Relationality Is The Moral Ground
- Care ethics centers relationality as the core human ontology rather than transactional calculation.
- It reframes moral problems by asking how relationships formed and will be sustained, not just which act maximizes utility.
Feminist Roots, Global Genealogies
- Western care ethics emerged from feminist critique but parallels older non-Western care traditions.
- Hamington warns against Western exceptionalism and urges learning from Indigenous and global practices.
Care, Ethics, And Theory Are Different
- Care, care ethics, and care theory are distinct: care is fundamental practice, care ethics is normative, care theory is expansive.
- Care theory includes epistemology, ontology, aesthetics, and a way of living beyond case-based moral calculus.
