Common Good Approach Common Good Approach (Feminist or Care-Based (Feminist or Care-Based

Approaches)Approaches)

Presented By:Presented By:Angie, Sara T., Kelsey, and JeremyAngie, Sara T., Kelsey, and Jeremy

LP: Ethical Theories PresentationLP: Ethical Theories Presentation

Section: Monday 1:30Section: Monday 1:30

March 24, 2008March 24, 2008

Communal ApproachCommunal Approach

““What is ethical is what What is ethical is what advances the common advances the common

good.”good.”

A vision of society in which all people join in the pursuit of

shared value and aims.

To understand and change To understand and change individual behaviorindividual behavior

Try to change communities Try to change communities to which we belongto which we belong

Individuals viewed not isolation, but as Individuals viewed not isolation, but as members of communities that are partially members of communities that are partially responsible for the behavior of their responsible for the behavior of their members.members.

Increase our understanding of the ethical Increase our understanding of the ethical values at stake in moral issues and values at stake in moral issues and increase the options available to us for increase the options available to us for resolving these issues resolving these issues

Lawrence KohlbergLawrence Kohlberg

Interested in how people would justify their Interested in how people would justify their actionsactions

Process of moral development was principally Process of moral development was principally concerned with justiceconcerned with justice

Formalism = the Formalism = the form and structureform and structure

of moral arguments is independentof moral arguments is independent

of the of the contentcontent of the arguments of the arguments

Lawrence Kohlberg’sLawrence Kohlberg’s‘Stages of Moral Development’‘Stages of Moral Development’

LevelsLevels StagesStages

Pre-ConventionalPre-Conventional 1) Obedience and 1) Obedience and punishment punishment

2) Self-interest 2) Self-interest

ConventionalConventional 3) Interpersonal accord 3) Interpersonal accord and conformityand conformity

4) Law and order4) Law and order

Post-ConventionalPost-Conventional 5) Social contract 5) Social contract

6) Universal principles6) Universal principles

Carol Gilligan The “care view” of moralityThe “care view” of morality

Morality focuses on doing the right thingMorality focuses on doing the right thing

Put others who are close to us above those Put others who are close to us above those whom are notwhom are not

Stages of moral development Stages of moral development

STAGESTAGE GOALGOAL

Pre-ConventionalPre-Conventional Goal is individual survivalGoal is individual survival

ConventionalConventional Self sacrifice is goodnessSelf sacrifice is goodness

Post-ConventionalPost-Conventional Principle of non-violence: Principle of non-violence: do not hurt others or self do not hurt others or self

Kohlberg and GilliganKohlberg and Gilligan

Gilligan worked with Kohlberg while he Gilligan worked with Kohlberg while he researched his theory of moral development researched his theory of moral development

Gilligan’s work on woman’s moral development Gilligan’s work on woman’s moral development arose in response to Kohlberg’s male-based arose in response to Kohlberg’s male-based resultsresults

Terminology!Terminology!

Feminists- a person whose beliefs and Feminists- a person whose beliefs and behavior are based on feminismbehavior are based on feminism

““Care View”- moral outlook that Care View”- moral outlook that emphasizes solidarity, community, and emphasizes solidarity, community, and caring about one’s special relationshipscaring about one’s special relationships

Common Good

Contemporary ethicist Contemporary ethicist John Rawls (author of John Rawls (author of A Theory of JusticeA Theory of Justice) ) more recently defined more recently defined the common good as the common good as “certain general “certain general conditions that are… conditions that are… equally to everyone’s equally to everyone’s advantage.”advantage.”

Humane Community ApproachHumane Community Approach

It presents a vision of society It presents a vision of society as a community whose as a community whose members are joined in the members are joined in the shared pursuit of values and shared pursuit of values and goals they hold in common.goals they hold in common.

StrengthsStrengths

Gives a Leveled playing fieldGives a Leveled playing field

Allows everyone to succeed Allows everyone to succeed

Lets everyone have a voiceLets everyone have a voice

Focuses on the GroupFocuses on the Group

Focuses on Larger community problemsFocuses on Larger community problemsLong term happiness goals are picked instead Long term happiness goals are picked instead

of short term goalsof short term goals

Reduces poverty while increasing Reduces poverty while increasing educationeducationRaises the over all wellness of lifeRaises the over all wellness of life

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Lack of National RelevanceLack of National Relevance

Usually based on Usually based on Communal practicalityCommunal practicality

Abuse of the powerfulAbuse of the powerful

Larger communities usually have Larger communities usually have advantage against smaller onesadvantage against smaller ones

Common good can be interpreted Common good can be interpreted differentlydifferently

-May allow Authoritarianism if thought to -May allow Authoritarianism if thought to be for the common goodbe for the common good

AlcoholicAlcoholic

THEN:THEN:People view them as individuals with problemsPeople view them as individuals with problemsTreatment helped them deal with their problemTreatment helped them deal with their problem

TODAY:TODAY:Alcoholic is often seen as part of a dysfunctional Alcoholic is often seen as part of a dysfunctional family system that reinforces alcoholic behavior family system that reinforces alcoholic behavior Behavior of the alcoholic requires that we Behavior of the alcoholic requires that we change the entire family situation. change the entire family situation.

Communal ApproachCommunal Approach

Having dry community-not to influence the Having dry community-not to influence the alcoholicalcoholic

Gathering a community support systemGathering a community support system

Let individual know, they aren’t fighting the Let individual know, they aren’t fighting the battle alonebattle alone

Review QuestionsReview Questions

1)1) How is an individual viewed under the How is an individual viewed under the common good approach?common good approach?

2)2) What are the three stages of moral What are the three stages of moral development?development?

3)3) What is “care view”?What is “care view”?

4)4) Do the strengths of the common good Do the strengths of the common good approach out-weigh the weakness’ of approach out-weigh the weakness’ of them?them?

Questions??Questions??