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How is universal caring different from caring as a virtue?

1) universal caring is asserting the freedom of the other
2) universal caring is rooted in instinct
3) universal caring is impossible to actualize
4) universal caring occurs when we displace our own reality and self-interest with the reality and self-interest of the other

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Universal caring involves an inclusive approach that equates others' well-being with one's own, contrasting with caring as a virtue, which may be more partial and rooted in personal relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

Universal caring, as articulated by philosophers such as Mozi, involves treating the interests and well-being of others as equally important as one's own. It is a form of inclusive care that promotes the benefit of the world by not harming others. It stands in contrast to caring as a virtue, which may involve partiality and is focused on concrete, personal relationships. Universal caring would mean displacing one's own reality and self-interest with the reality and self-interest of others (Option 4).

The ethics of care as discussed by Nel Noddings and later philosophers suggests that care as a traditional woman's value can become an ethical paradigm, emphasizing the agent's sensitivity to situational factors and relationships which can lead to moral actions that account for the interests of individuals in specific contexts.

However, care ethics also face criticisms such as the potential reinforcement of women's traditional roles or the difficulty in applying care universally due to human's tendency to care within the scope of their experience and knowledge.

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