Introduction for Week 5

Welcome back, philosophers! This week we will look at our fourth and final answer to this unit's "Big Picture" Question: How do we act morally?

To do this, we'll be discussing a care ethics. According to this theory, acting morally is caring for others/forming and fostering connection in a reciprocal relationship of care.

Thus far, the ethical theories we've considered ask us to, at least to some extent, put aside our own needs and interests as we strive towards a detached, disinterested ethical truth. In contrast, care ethics says that we must pay attention to and continue to develop our personal relationships in order to act morally. In care ethics, we should consider our interpersonal relationships as motivators for acting, and it is okay to prioritize those relationships in our behavior-- but we also must keep in mind that others are forming similar networks of reciprocal relationships as well, and that our actions can impact those relationships. Much like the other ethical theories, there are many different versions of care ethics, but we will focus on identifying the commonalities between the different variations for the purposes of our discussion.

Here is a video lecture, where we'll set up this ethical theory:

Readings and Assignments for Week 5

Now that you've watched the introductory video for this week, you will start engaging with your learning materials. To begin, watch this video, Crash Course Philosophy #43: Family Obligations. You only need to watch the video from 6:00 through the end of the video.

Now, to go more in depth with this theory, you will read an overview of care ethics and its history, which comes from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Care Ethics Primer IEP Maureen Sander-Staudt (p. 1-5)

This week you need to complete your post-unit reflection, which is due by 8 pm on Friday, September 25. For more details on this assignment or to submit your reflection, visit the following page:

Post-unit 1 reflection paper

Once you have done all of the readings and viewed all the learning materials above, you will also complete the following assignments. Remember, all assignments are due by this Friday (September 25) at 8 pm.

LA 9: Applying Care Ethics

You will also respond to two discussion board posts. Initial posts are due by 8 pm on Wednesday, September 23. Then, by Friday, September 25 at 8 pm you should give substantive responses to at least 2 of your classmates’ posts.

Week 5 Summary

Below is a summary of all of the readings and assignments for this week. Once you have completed everything on this checklist, you are done for the week! Be sure to look ahead in case there are any big assignments coming up that are due later in the course.

Readings:

Watch the Crash Course Philosophy video linked above
Read Maureen Sander-Staudt's Care Ethics Primer (IEP)

Learning Activities:

LA 9: Applying Care Ethics

Discussion Board Posts:

Post-Unit Reflection

Post-Unit 1 Reflection Paper (due Friday, Sept. 25 by 8 pm)