Final answer:
The concept of regarding others as within one's circle of moral concern is key to ethical discussions and extends to both interpersonal and global ethical considerations, including the environment and relationships guided by principles like filial piety and care ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding others as within one's circle of moral concern involves recognizing the humanity and inherent value of others, reflecting both an ethical consideration and a philosophical standpoint that extends beyond one's immediate self-interest. It is this sense of an inclusive moral community that underscores principles of morality and ethical conduct.
In the philosophical discourse, incorporating others into our moral consideration facilitates a foundation for societal norms and laws, ethically grounding our interactions. It is vital in our social fabric, recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual and asserting that our actions should reflect this recognition.
For instance, Confucian ethics highlight filial piety and benevolence as key aspects of virtue, indicating a gradated concern for others from family to the broader society. Similarly, an ethics of care emphasizes a morality of compassion and connectedness, often associated with feminist theorists like Carol Gilligan, challenging traditional male-centric theories of moral development.
In a broader sense, the matter of extending moral concern can lead to environmental ethics, where human interests like clean air and water become the foundation for our moral obligations towards the Earth. Likewise, the concept of altruism plays a key role in the discussion of ethics, where the selfless concern for the well-being of others is debated among moral philosophers as being fundamental to morality.