Ethics of Care Theory. Literature & Language Research Paper

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Research Paper
There are a lot of moral theories and approaches that have been developed by philosophers even during the earlier centuries, to provide a structure regarding how a man should act. It also gives the meaning as to why a particular act is considered right or wrong. These proposed theories provide different perspectives that enable man to rationalize and evaluate his/her decisions, and to promote what is considered as the “right” decision. Among the numerous available theories, this paper aims to specifically discuss the ethics of care theory and its application to the case scenarios that will be presented.
Ethics of Care Theory
The ethics of care is a theory that showcases feminist views. It is an alternative moral theory that is quite different from the previously developed moral theories that were mostly focused on justice. The ethics of care theory puts importance on emotions and caring relationships, which are usually downplayed aspects of humanity when looked at through androcentric moral approaches. The ethics of care theory was also developed as a criticism of most of the moral theories that are described to be “masculine”. In comparison to the ethics of justice that is all about equality, fairness, and rational decision-making, the ethics of care theory is holistic, emotional, harmonious, and considers the need in the situation. These two theories are said to be representing opposite poles (Held, 2006).
This theory, as stated in its name, is focused on “care”. This leads to the need to define what care is, and this involves both practice and basic human emotions and values. Empathy, a sense of responsibility, mutuality, and sensitivity are some of the concepts that may be associated with the ethics of care (Perpich, 2006). These concepts became the foundation of this theory with a perspective that recognizes how interdependent each human being is, and because of this, the focus of the ethics of care theory is caring social relationships.
The ethics of care theory is associated with feminists because of the social role of women to devote their lives to caring and working for other people. Some examples showcasing women’s care and devotion are caring for a child, doing household chores, and nursing the ill or the elderly. Challenges that are faced are seen as conflicts in the ethics of justice perspective, but the ethics of care, on the other hand, treats the challenges as vital in maintaining and nurturing human relationships. This also explains the sense of responsibility towards other people and the consideration of other people’s needs. These caring practices are applicable universally and to a wide range of human interaction and activity from inside a family to a big community (Olsaretti, 2018).
Case Study Summary: Blood for Sale
This case study entitled “Blood for Sale” presents numerous issues regarding blood donations. Plasma International is a company that supplies blood to the United States of America and South America for a profit. At the first trials of the business in buying blood from donors, it encountered people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction which led to numerous cases of hepatitis, affecting the recipients of the blood. In order to source out safer blood, Plasma International went to tribes from rural West Africa and agreed with their chieftains. This became an issue due to the commercialization of an essential and supposedly priceless fluid, while also exploiting the people from the West African tribes for business profit.
In addition to these, the ways in the United States of America were compared from the National Health Service of Great Britain that supplies the demands for blood through voluntary donations without any money involved. This system made blood available to those in need, without the pressure of a monetary value, and the donors are also encouraged out of selflessness and concern for another person’s life. The way of buying and selling blood in the United States of America promotes the blood to be treated as a product while also indirectly discouraging altruism in the community.
Theory Application
The ethics of care can be demonstrated in this case study by the way that the healthcare system of Great Britain handles blood donations. In contrast with the system in the United States of America and South America, which goes against numerous concepts and perspectives of the ethics of care theory.
First, the exploitation of the donors from the West African tribes are done for self-serving purposes, and the main goal is not to help but for increased sales and profit for the founded company. Another issue is the promotion of buying and selling blood as a commodity, enabling the system to be controlled by money without consideration for those who are not capable of affording the price of the blood. This also affects those who need a regular supply of blood from donors, such as haemophiliac patients, in a negative way. Lastly, the system decreases the value of social relations and does not promote empathy and care towards another person.
Case Study Summary: The Housing Allowance
This case involves Wilson Mutambara from the slums of Rambia. He was able to get a scholarship to study in the United States of America, and a chance to work at a telecommunications company, NewCom. The company will open a local cellular service in the hometown of Wilson Mutambara, so he had the opportunity to go back home. The company gives its employees a monthly housing allowance of up to $2,000 to live in a safe and stylish neighbourhood, also considering the image of the company. He did not invite any of his coworkers into his home, and nobody was suspicious due to his frequent business trips and a busy schedule until a Rambian customer mentioned to one of Wilson Mutambara’s coworkers that he is currently staying at Old Town with his relatives. After confirming this information, Dale communicated this to Barbara Weston, who was Wilson Mutambara’s supervisor. He was confronted by his supervisor regarding the matter of the falsification of documents, and going against the company’s rules and image that it wanted to project. During this discussion, Wilson Mutambara argued that he was a Rambian and this was his hometown, which is not unsafe to a person like him, in addition to the fact that he had to provide for his nieces and nephews for them to have a similar opportunity as him in the future.
Theory Application
Using the ethics of care theory on Wilson Mutambara’s case, the importance of social relations and the needs of those involved should be considered. Although he committed some fraudulent acts in faking receipts in order to receive his housing allowance, he did it because he had obligations towards his family. He did not decide to live in a big house in a styli...