An American feminist, educationalist, and philosopher, Nel Noddings is best known for her work regarding the ethics of caring, which has subsequently positively impacted the entire educational field. Her first work, Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education is an encapsulating analysis of caring and of its role in ethics. By delineating the guidelines for caring, by explaining the controversy between natural caring and ethical caring, and by describing wrong actions, Noddings substantially postulates what caring is and what role it has in society. Correspondingly, the contemporary Western philosopher applied her work to the study of learning, allowing educators to better supplement academia. A systematic and rigid framework
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Natural caring follows the “I want” imperative, while ethical caring adheres to the “I must” postulation. Doing something purely out of love, such as making a friend, family member, or significant other lunch on a busy day, is natural caring; one is performing an action purely because he or she wants to do it, not because there is a requirement to do it. On the other hand, ethical caring, more compulsory, entails doing something because it is the right thing to do; fulfilling the “musts” is an obligation of humanity. Desperately wanting to evade a loved one’s anger but staying because that individual requires my presence and attention is an indication of ethical caring. It derives from the deeply-rooted belief that caring is the most functional and beneficial form of relating to an individual and deepening your relationship with him or her. Ethical caring stems from natural caring, and therefore, similar to engrossment and motivational displacement, are dependent on one another. An “ethical ideal” is a mental image of personal aspirations for an individual and is derived from both experiencing and endowing care (Noddings …show more content…
By either choosing or forced to act in a fashion contrary to the natural response of caring, an individual’s ethical ideal is significantly reduced. Whether deliberate or not, people or parties can contribute to the belittlement of the ethical ideal by not teaching caring or by placing one in an environment where he or she is prevented from caring. This failure to care or knowingly deterring another’s ability to care is defined as evil, according to Noddings; “When one intentionally rejects the impulse to care and deliberately turns her back on the ethical, she is evil, and this evil cannot be redeemed” (421). In brief, Nel Noddings, a contemporary Western philosopher, is heavily engaged in care ethics and is a key model for those desiring to reaffirm the ethical, or caring, pillars of education. Throughout her renowned work Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education, Noddings explains the guidelines for caring and the distinction between natural and ethical caring and resolves that evil occurs from the lack of caring. In conclusion, Nel Noddings is a unique philosopher whose theories have made substantial and tangible impacts on the
Natural caring follows the “I want” imperative, while ethical caring adheres to the “I must” postulation. Doing something purely out of love, such as making a friend, family member, or significant other lunch on a busy day, is natural caring; one is performing an action purely because he or she wants to do it, not because there is a requirement to do it. On the other hand, ethical caring, more compulsory, entails doing something because it is the right thing to do; fulfilling the “musts” is an obligation of humanity. Desperately wanting to evade a loved one’s anger but staying because that individual requires my presence and attention is an indication of ethical caring. It derives from the deeply-rooted belief that caring is the most functional and beneficial form of relating to an individual and deepening your relationship with him or her. Ethical caring stems from natural caring, and therefore, similar to engrossment and motivational displacement, are dependent on one another. An “ethical ideal” is a mental image of personal aspirations for an individual and is derived from both experiencing and endowing care (Noddings …show more content…
By either choosing or forced to act in a fashion contrary to the natural response of caring, an individual’s ethical ideal is significantly reduced. Whether deliberate or not, people or parties can contribute to the belittlement of the ethical ideal by not teaching caring or by placing one in an environment where he or she is prevented from caring. This failure to care or knowingly deterring another’s ability to care is defined as evil, according to Noddings; “When one intentionally rejects the impulse to care and deliberately turns her back on the ethical, she is evil, and this evil cannot be redeemed” (421). In brief, Nel Noddings, a contemporary Western philosopher, is heavily engaged in care ethics and is a key model for those desiring to reaffirm the ethical, or caring, pillars of education. Throughout her renowned work Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education, Noddings explains the guidelines for caring and the distinction between natural and ethical caring and resolves that evil occurs from the lack of caring. In conclusion, Nel Noddings is a unique philosopher whose theories have made substantial and tangible impacts on the