Feminist Philosophy and Its Challenge to Traditional Ethics

Abstract

Feminist philosophy presents a critical rethinking of traditional ethics by exposing its patriarchal foundations and highlighting the exclusion of women’s moral experiences. Classical frameworks such as Aristotelian virtue ethics, Kantian deontology, and utilitarianism have long emphasized rationality, universality, and autonomy, often ignoring the significance of care, relationships, and emotions in moral life. Feminist philosophers challenge this narrow focus, arguing that ethical theories have historically privileged male perspectives and marginalized the voices of women and other oppressed groups. By introducing concepts such as the ethics of care (Carol Gilligan, Nel Noddings), relational autonomy, and intersectionality (Kimberlé Crenshaw, bell hooks), feminist ethics expands the scope of moral philosophy to include empathy, interdependence, and justice sensitive to power relations. In doing so, it not only critiques traditional systems but also reconstructs ethics into a more inclusive and humane framework, offering new relevance for contemporary issues such as healthcare, social justice, and global equality.