Britannica AI Icon

Nel Noddings

American feminist philosopher

Quick Summary

Nel Noddings was an American feminist philosopher known for her contributions to the ethics of care. She argued that morality is fundamentally based on caring relationships, contrasting this with ethical theories that rely on abstract principles. Noddings viewed identity as being defined by one's relationships with others, and she saw caring as a universal human attribute.1

Her theory distinguishes between the "one-caring" and the "cared-for," emphasizing that the one-caring acts in response to the perceived needs of the cared-for, considering their perspective. Noddings' work suggests that caring involves both natural inclination and a sense of ethical obligation, where the impulse to care is primary. This perspective has influenced discussions in feminist ethics and applied ethics, particularly in fields like education and nursing.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.