Justice and Care: Essential Readings in Feminist Ethics

When feminist philosophers first turned their attention to traditional ethical theory, its almost exclusive emphasis upon justice, rights, abstract rationality, and individual autonomy came under special criticism. Women's experiences seemed to suggest the need for a focus on care, empathetic relations, and the interdependence of persons.The most influential readings of what has become an extremely lively and fruitful debate are reproduced here along with important new contributions by Alison Jaggar and Sara Ruddick. As this volume testifies, there is no agreement on the important questions about the relationship between justice and care, but the debate has deepened and enriched our understanding in many ways.Justice and Careis a valuable collection of readingsan essential tool for anyone studying the state of feminist thought in particular or ethical theory in general.

Virginia Held is professor of philosophy and women’s studies at Hunter College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York. She is the author of many articles and books on moral, political, and social theory, including Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society and Politics; Rights and Goods: Justifying Social Action; and The Public Interest and Individual Interests. Virginia Held is professor of philosophy and women’s studies at Hunter College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York. She is the author of many articles and books on moral, political, and social theory, including Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society and Politics; Rights and Goods: Justifying Social Action; and The Public Interest and Individual Interests.