Final answer:
Jean Watson is the theorist who developed the nursing theory known as the science of human caring. This theory integrates the humanistic aspects of nursing with scientific knowledge, emphasizing caring for individuals. Nel Noddings has critiqued care theory for potentially reinforcing traditional women's roles and questioned the feasibility of gender-free morality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theorist who developed the nursing theory known as the science of human caring is Jean Watson. This theory emphasizes the humanistic aspects of nursing combined with scientific knowledge. Jean Watson's theory is centered on the belief that nursing is concerned with health promotion, disease prevention, and caring for the sick.
Discussing the challenges associated with care theory, some philosophers, such as Nel Noddings, argue that while the ethic of care reflects traditional women's values and seeks to define new virtues, it may unintentionally perpetuate gender stereotypes. The concept suggests that care ethics is inherently connected to women's experiences and caregiving roles, which has been traditionally defined in terms of silence, obedience, and service. Noddings also raised concerns about the possibility of a gender-free morality, given historically pervasive beliefs in the inferiority of women and the societal expectations placed upon them.