The Ethics of care : personal, political, and global /

Held (CUNY Graduate School) offers an important book on the ethics of care. Only a quarter century old, it is a serious alternative in moral theory. Carefully and passionately, Held sets out a comprehensive role for care, from ethics to political, social, and global questions. In part 1 she focuses on moral issues. After a distinction between ethics of care and virtue theory (focus on relationships versus individuals' dispositions), Held delves into the meaning of "care" as a practice and a value. She then explores what a caring person is like (i.e., has caring motivation and practices caring) and how the ethics of care differs from theories based on justice and utility. She defends ethics of care against liberal critiques. In part 2 the author deals with social issues, showing how the ethics of care can better address a wide range of issues, e.g., market sphere and values, human rights, and global problems. Overall, this is an excellent book. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. S. Correa College of Mount St. Joseph