Concerning feminine and feminite approaches to ethics

• Main Author: Matic, Mislav
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/1430

The feminine and the feminite approaches to ethics differ in their respective ontology, epistemology and political theory. Yet, advocates of both perspectives remain self-described 'feminists'--persons committed to furthering the interests of women. In this thesis the differences between the feminine and feminite approaches are articulated and it is argued that the feminine approach, rather than the feminite, serves best to represent the interests of women. Further, the feminite approach is critiqued as being a perspective that is too focused on group specific political concerns to qualify as an ethic. In support of the feminine approach, it is suggested that concerns and interests that are understood to be of particular interest to women are in fact matters that ought to be perceived as central concerns for the whole of society. The ontological and epistemological stance of the feminine approach to ethics is defined by the claim that women are enlightened in virtue of their distinct female experience. Based on this claim the feminine approach is enabled to develop an 'ethic of care'--which not only serves as a critique of male bias in traditional moral theory but also provides an alternative standard by which to evaluate and determine what constitutes the moral act.