Final answer:
Carol Gilligan's critique of Kohlberg's morality theory centered around gender differences in moral reasoning, introducing a care perspective, equalizing the value of justice and care perspectives, and prioritizing empathy in moral decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In discussing the four features of Gilligan's challenge to liberal morality as presented by Baier, it is essential to outline how Gilligan's theory diverged from Kohlberg's justice-based approach. Carol Gilligan theorized that men and women approach moral dilemmas from inherently different perspectives based on their socialization--a view that critiques Kohlberg's male-centric research. The four key aspects of Gilligan's challenge are:
- The recognition of a gender difference in moral reasoning, with men focusing on justice and autonomy, and women on care and relationships.
- The identification of a care perspective, where morality includes concerns for others and the importance of personal relationships.
- The proposition that neither the justice perspective nor the care perspective is superior; each serves different societal roles and functions.
- Challenging the notion that emotions should be secondary to abstract principles, emphasizing that moral reasoning should value empathy and compassion.
However, Gilligan's study has been critiqued for its small sample size and the lack of replication by subsequent studies, which pointed to gender socialization rather than inherent moral differences.