EVA FEDER KITTAY: THE ETHICS OF CARE AND DISABILITY
This article explores Eva Feder Kittay’s ethical framework, emphasizing the intersection of care, disability, and social justice. Building on the foundations of the ethics of care, as developed by thinkers such as Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings, Kittay reconceptualizes moral philosophy by centering dependency and caregiving as fundamental dimensions of human existence. She challenges traditional ethical paradigms rooted in abstract notions of autonomy, rights, and justice—arguing that these often neglect the lived realities of dependent individuals, particularly those with disabilities. Through a critical analysis of Kittay’s work, including Love’s Labor and When Caring Is Just and Justice Is Caring, the article examines the moral significance of caregiving labor, highlighting its social, political, and economic undervaluation. Kittay’s notion of relational personhood foregrounds interdependence as a normative ethical principle, redefining dignity not as mere independence but as recognition of vulnerability and moral worth within relational contexts. The article also considers the implications of Kittay’s framework for contemporary debates in healthcare ethics, disability policy, and social justice, while engaging with critiques regarding potential tensions between care obligations and individual autonomy. Ultimately, Kittay’s philosophy demonstrates that ethics must account for human fragility, relationality, and the moral imperative to support those who are dependent, thereby bridging care and justice. By situating disability at the center of ethical reflection, Kittay provides a robust normative foundation for rethinking social policies, caregiving practices, and moral responsibilities in a pluralistic society.
Keywords: Ethics of care, disability, dependency, caregiving, justice, dignity, relational personhood.