The Philosophy of Care (eBook)

Contents 6
1: Ontological Reasons for Care 7
The Primacy of Care: Some Points for Reflection 7
Being-There While Lacking Being 10
The Directionality of Care 13
Preserving Vital Strength 13
Care that Makes Being Flourish 15
Care that Heals the Injuries of Being-There 20
The Thoughtfulness of Being-There 27
Relationality as Primary Ontological Data 27
Being Alone with the Other/the Solitude of Being-With 30
The Neediness of the Other 34
The Conditionsnees of Being-There 37
Vulnerability 37
Fragility 41
Ontological Weakness 48
The Paradigmatic Horizon 53
Bibliography 54
2: The Essence of Good Care 57
Questions of Method 57
In Search of the General Essence 57
The Essence of Concreteness 59
Seeds of Method 61
The General-Formal Essence of Care 65
Epistemological Boundaries 65
The Essential Quality 67
Where Care Takes Place 68
Temporal Duration 72
The Generative Matrix 73
The Object of Care 76
The Intention Guiding Life 79
The Ethical Core of the Work of Care 82
The Primary Issue 82
Sticking to the Question 87
Where the Issue Is the Good 89
Aside 93
Bibliography 94
3: The Ethical Core of Care 97
In the Heart of Care 97
Feeling Responsibility for the Other 99
At the Origin of the Sense of Responsibility 103
Understanding the Quality of Being-There of Another 103
Feeling Touched by the Other 105
Obeying Reality 110
Being Obligated 110
A Simple and Essential Thought 112
Feeling Reality 117
Acting with Generosity 121
The Act of Giving 121
Without Expectations 125
An Extraordinary Ordinary Life 127
The Vital Necessity of Giving 132
Approaching the Other with Respect 134
A Kindergarten Teacher’s Account: 134
The Essence of Respect 135
In Word and in Deed 135
The Roots of Respect 141
Being Brave 143
Bibliography 149
4: The Concrete Aspects of the Essence of Care 151
Paying Attention 152
Keeping One’s Eyes on Reality 152
Loyalty 155
Listening 157
Being-There with Words 159
Understanding 161
Feeling-with-the-Other 164
Feeling Empathy 166
Feeling Compassion 170
Feeling-With in the Right Measure 172
Feeling with Attention 173
Being-There with a Faraway Closeness 176
Being Gentle but Firm 179
The Effort of Care 182
How Care May Be Difficult 182
The Necessary Reason of Care 184
Bibliography 187