Problems with Traditional Ethical Theories

Reason has traditionally been understood, not only as separate from emotion / sentiment, but as antithetical to it. Thus, being deemed rational required a rejection of emotion & those deemed “emotional” were irrational & immoral 

Action-based theories = require exclusionary understandings of rationally & impartially (e.g., calculating what will maximize happiness or reasoning to abstract moral principles)

Conceive of epistemic agents / knowers as being individualistic, self-interested, autonomous selves which reflects a more masculine conception of the Self

Not Situated = does not take into account social, political, or economic realities of moral agents 

Excludes the role of parenting & other interdependent relationships (private realm) in cultivating moral virtues

Offer wrong / one-sided view of moral life /development which is embedded within the theories themselves

Action-based theories = concepts are too vague / abstract / broad (assume universality of experience) & NOT representative of the experiences of women / marginalized masculinities

Agent-based theories = traditional virtues reflect hegemonic masculinity & thus exclude groups from being considered "virtuous"