Ethics of Care and Social Responsibility
Summary
The ethics of care foregrounds relationality, mutual responsibility and the moral significance of attending to needs within interdependent social contexts. Emerging from feminist philosophy, this approach challenges abstract principles by emphasising situated judgement, emotional attunement and responsiveness to vulnerability. Social responsibility extends these insights into institutional and collective spheres, urging organisations and publics to recognise their obligations toward equity, wellbeing and environmental stewardship. Together, these frameworks reconceptualise morality as a distributed practice grounded in care networks, where responsibilities are negotiated rather than assumed, and power asymmetries are actively addressed. This combined perspective informs policy debates on health, education, labour and governance, contributing to more inclusive, adaptive and resilient communities across diverse cultural settings.
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Ethics of Care and Social Responsibility publication trend
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Technical terms
Ethics of care: A moral theory that emphasises relational interdependence, contextual judgement and responsiveness to vulnerability.
Social responsibility: The duty of individuals, organisations or states to act for the benefit of society and mitigate harm.
Relationality: The concept that identities and responsibilities are co-constituted through social connections rather than isolated agents.
Paternalism: A mode of intervention justified by presumed vulnerability, which can both protect and constrain autonomy.
Caring activism: Collective action guided by care ethics, blending emotional labour, mutual support and political advocacy.
References
- Paternalistic state care and the dynamic of COVID-19 pandemic governance in Jakarta's rented social housing. Cities (2024).
- Care Ethics and the Future of Work: a Different Voice. Philosophy & Technology (2023).
- Reconceptualizing Activism through a Feminist Care Ethics in the Ontario (Canada) Early Childhood Education Context: Enacting Caring Activism. Social Sciences (2023).
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