幫助受苦者──對關懷倫理學中理想關懷行動之分析

Helping Those Who Are Suffering: An analysis of ideal caring actions according to the ethics of care

本文處理一個問題：從關懷倫理學的觀點，為幫助身邊的受 苦者，什麼是一個符合道德理想的關懷行動？首先我以兩個日常 情境為例，說明缺乏倫理思辨之關懷可能伴隨傷害。其次我根據 關懷倫理學，尤其是諾丁斯提倡的關懷關係，分析理想關懷行動 的對象和特質。第三部份我說明幫助受苦者的具體實踐，包括對 需求的分辨與聆聽、對他者的轉向，以及倫理意義的對話。我指 出，在幫助受苦者的方法上，關懷理論並沒有提出任何通則，也 不是所有的困難都能被解決，但我論證透過關懷關係的建立，尤 其是透過接納「他者」之在場的對話，不但能夠回應受苦者的需 求，也能同時提升關懷者和被關懷者雙方的福祉。

This article focuses on one question: when it comes to helping those who are suffering, what actions are ideal according to care ethics? First, I examine two daily situations to show that caring actions without ethical deliberations might be accompanied by harm. Then I elaborate on the characteristics of caring actions according to care ethics, in particular the care relation highlighted by Nel Noddings. In the third part, I discuss the practices of helping those who are suffering, including understanding and listening to suffering people's needs, turning to the Other, and having an ethical dialogue between the participants. I point out that there are no general principles of caring actions; besides, caring actions might not solve the problems faced by suffering people. Nevertheless, I argue that by developing a care relation with the suffering, especially by means of dialogues which acknowledge the presence of Others, we can respond to the needs of the suffering, and in the mean time enhance the well-being of both parties in the care relation.