Author of Caring A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education 1984Noddings EducationStanford offers here a provocative definition of evil fromwomens perspe... » 

Author of Caring A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education 1984Noddings EducationStanford offers here a provocative definition of evil fromwomens perspective contrasts it with our societys traditional maleorientedview and points out ways in which an acceptance of the presence of evil in allof us could help correct some pervasive injustices. Noddings claims thatWestern civilizations separation of good and evil into two entities God andSatan the result of mens need to explain the presence of evil in the face ofan allpowerful loving Father marked the beginning of an erroneous andinevitably destructive lifeview in our culture. Denial of the presence of evilin God led to parallel separations of pure spiritual man from wickednatural woman good societal classes from evil ones and virtuousnations from corrupt ones. These false concepts are still with us today e.g. Reagans Evil Empire. Noddings maintains that women with theirparticularized sustenancecentered experience as mothers tend to see eviland good as inextricably intertwined and would define evil simply as anythingthat causes an individual pain helplessness andor a sense of separation.Since the historical emphasis on submission to a good authority in order todefeat an evil enemy has so often led to war and oppression and thus topain helplessness and separation Noddings recommends the addition of a moreholistic female perspective when considering societal aims. Her promisedfuture work on specific changes that could introduce a more androgynous view ofgood and evil into our educational system will be welcome. Thought provoking asthis work is its dry academic style may well prevent it from attracting thewide readership it deserves. Kirkus Reviews «