Final answer:
The most accurate synonym for Nel Noddings' conception of care is 'concern,' which aligns with the ethics of care and the act of caring for others' well-being as central to her philosophical view.
Step-by-step explanation:
The synonym that might best represent Noddings' conception of care would be concern. In Noddings' view, as presented in her work on care ethics, she emphasizes the importance of caring relationships and suggests that an ethic of care is informed by experiences traditionally associated with women's caregiving roles. This conception of care relates to the feelings of regard or interest towards others, rather than simply sharing or understanding their emotional states, which would be more akin to empathy or sympathy. Noddings' notion of care advocates for a moral deliberation that is sensitive to the concrete and situational aspects of individuals' lives, and she values the act of caring as a fundamental moral principle.
When considering the options given, concern is an apt synonym because it encompasses the kind of focused attention and caring regard for others' well-being that is central to the care ethics theory. Empathy and sympathy are related concepts but are distinct in that they focus more on feeling with or for another, rather than the active provision of care or concern for another's well-being. Anxiety is not an appropriate synonym as it is characterized by feelings of worry, unease, or nervousness, which are not inherent to Noddings' conception of care.