****PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION and the QUESTION VERY CAREFUL and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION***
QUESTION: IN THE ETHICS OF CARE, VIRGINIA HELD ARGUES THAT “CARE” UNDERSTOOD AS BOTH A “PRACTICE” AND A “CLUSTER OF VALUES” PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR A NEW ETHICS. THESE ETHICS WOULD PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO KANT’S RATIONAL DEONTOLOGY AND MILL’S UTILITARIANISM BECAUSE IT SEES THE CULTIVATION OF PARTICULAR “CARING RELATIONS” AS A CENTRAL CONCERN IN OUR MORAL LIFE. THAT IS, THE RELATIONS OF CARE THAT WE CULTIVATE OR FAIL TO CULTIVATE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, FELLOW CITIZENS, AND SO ON, ARE CENTRAL TO OUR MORAL LIFE.
COULD THE ETHICS OF CARE, AS DESCRIBED BY HELD, EXPLAIN RASKOLNIKOV’S PROCESS OF MORAL DEGENERATION AND REDEMPTION IN CRIME AND PUNISHMENT? IF NOT, DO DEONTOLOGICAL OR UTILITARIAN ETHICS EXPLAIN THAT PROCESS BETTER? WHY?
INSTRUCTIONS: It will be graded based on whether: (1) you have a clear thesis to answer the question; (2) you support your thesis with specific evidence from Dostoesky’s novel (Crime and Punishment) in relation to Kant’s, Mill’s, or Held’s philosophical texts.
The main criteria for assessing writing assignments are:
(1) The essay states a clear thesis that addresses the question or issue directly.
(2) The essay presents a clear argument supporting the main thesis in such a way that:
(a) The premises to support the conclusion [thesis] are clearly stated.
(b) Good reasons are provided to support the premises.
(c) The premises do serve to support the thesis (conclusion) according to a well-organized logical pattern (e.g. deduction, induction, analogy).
(3) The essay demonstrates a thoughtful command of some of the relevant readings from the course.
(4) The grammar, syntax, and spelling are correct.
Note: I dont want to get a low grade because this paper will count as my midterm which is %45 of my class grade.
