Ideal vs. Non‐ideal Theory: A Conceptual Map

Valentini, Laura

doi:10.1111/j.1747-9991.2012.00500.x

Cited by 527 publications

(252 citation statements)

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“…Specifying the precise form of contractarianism will be necessary for a complete account of just caregiving, but that is not the task of this paper. 11 My usage of ideal theory here is compatible with and Valentini (2012). It differs from , who says that ideal theory is necessarily ideological theory, so that if a person addresses oppression, they are doing nonideal theory.…”

Section: The Arrow Of Care Map: Overview Of Functionsmentioning

confidence: 91%

The Arrow of Care Map: Abstract Care in Ideal Theory

Bhandary

2017

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This paper advances a framework to conceptualize societal caregiving arrangements abstractly. It is abstract in that it brackets the meaning of our particular relationships. This framework, which I call the arrow of care map, is a descriptive tracking model that is a necessary component of a theory of justice, but it is not a normative prescription in itself. The basic idea of the map is then multiply specifiable to track various ascriptive identity categories as well as different categories of care labor. In this way, the idea of the arrow of care map serves as a conceptual frame with which to identify societies' caregiving arrangements. I characterize it as a component of "ideal theory" insofar as it seeks to clarify our values without the immediate aim of formulating principles to govern a just society. The resultant partial theory of justice is one that responds to nonideal theory's critiques of the ideological nature of liberal contractarianism's idealizations and abstractions while moving towards new visions of a just society.Keywords: ideal theory, nonideal theory, contractarianism, care, dependency care, liberal feminism, feminist liberalism, justice, distributive justice Care, compassion, and concern are crucial elements of meaningful intimate relationships Tronto 1993;. In addition, the labor of hands-on care to meet a person's basic needs often occurs within our closest relationships. However, caregiving also occurs in paid and professional contexts, which sometimes cross national boundaries through migrations of nannies and 1 I presented this paper to the Society for Analytical Feminism, Wellesley University, and as the 2017 Inaugural Robinson Grover Lecture at the University of Connecticut, where Elise Springer and Rik Hine offered interesting analyses of the view that I plan to pursue in future work. I thank the participants of each of these events. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Cynthia Stark, Lisa Tessman, and Diana Tietjens Meyers for philosophically open-minded discussions about the nature of my project. The written version of the paper was improved by comments by Richard Fumerton, two anonymous reviewers, and the editors of this journal. other care workers. Moreover, even in the contexts of families and friends, care that is given and received can be structured by internal hierarchies and inequities.Various cultures and societies have different ways of organizing life around care, such as gendered arrangements, extended families, and socialized care. These arrangements have particular histories. The history of slavery in the US means that black women who tend to white women do so in a context that is racially and historically charged. 2 In societies with extended family systems, systems of care provision are structured by gender oppression and internally structured hierarchies and norms. For instance, a daughter-in-law may provide elder care to her parents-inlaw, where that practice is linked to preferences for males in those cultures, or a youngest daughter may be designated...

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Section: The Arrow Of Care Map: Overview Of Functionsmentioning

confidence: 91%

The Arrow of Care Map: Abstract Care in Ideal Theory

Bhandary

2017

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“…As she describes, ideal theory refers to a 'utopian or idealistic theory,' whereas non-ideal theory is more of a realistic theory (Valentini, 2012). Further, ideal theory focuses its aim at 'societal perfection' or the ideal, whereas non-ideal theory focuses its aim on improvements 'without necessarily determining what the optimum is' (Valentini, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coining the terms, 'ideal theory' and 'non-ideal theory' as Rawls did, Valentini's (2012) paper, Ideal vs. Non-Ideal Theory: A Conceptual Map appropriately defines and gives context to the debate. As she describes, ideal theory refers to a 'utopian or idealistic theory,' whereas non-ideal theory is more of a realistic theory (Valentini, 2012). Further, ideal theory focuses its aim at 'societal perfection' or the ideal, whereas non-ideal theory focuses its aim on improvements 'without necessarily determining what the optimum is' (Valentini, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ideal and Nonideal Theory: Untangling the Debate

Rodgers

2014

IJE

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In reviewing some of the literature, ideal and non-ideal theories are presented as opposing or at least competing theories, in the same manner as are liberal and progressive theories of education. Some scholars suggest that ideal theory ought to precede non-ideal theory, while others suggest just the opposite. This is referred to in the literature as 'the priority objection.' Some suggest we don't need ideal theory at all and should exclusively use non-ideal theory. Others focus on how this scholar misses the point, that scholar leaves something out, or this scholar has it right and here's why. My objective in this paper is to argue that aside from important and scholarly discussions, ideal theory and non-ideal theory are artificially polarized. Further, and more radically, characterizing ideal and non-ideal theories as two separate enterprises and as 'theories' are category mistakes. Not surprisingly, because of the artificial polarization and category mistakes, the debate is rather confused and stuck. This paper attempts to untangle the confusion and open up the dialogue.

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“…Non-ideal circumstances come in different varieties, and there is a debate about how best to categorize them in general (Simmons 2010;Valentini 2012). For the applied context we are concerned with here, we may distinguish between two general types of issues: problems of non-compliance and problems of feasibility.…”

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confidence: 99%