Justice without care is abstract: an exegetical quest to decode Albert Camus’s ethics of rebellion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JSRD.5.1.73-75Keywords:
Feminist ethics, NMA, Nupi Lan, Rebellion, The plague, Care ethics, Albert Camus, Ethics of rebellion, Ethics of care, Social justice, Feminist movements, Carol Gilligan, Axiological dichotomy, Political resistanceAbstract
"The only way to fight the plague is with decency." (The Plague)
This paper explores the philosophical intersection of care-based and justice-based ethics, seeking to mitigate the traditional dichotomy that exists between these two axiological spheres. By performing an exegetical analysis of Albert Camus’s 1947 novel The Plague, this research identifies the "Ethics of Rebellion" as a vital bridge between androcentric, principle-driven frameworks—ranging from Kantian deontology to Rawlsian justice—and the feminist "Ethics of Care" propounded by Carol Gilligan. The study posits that justice, when stripped of compassion, remains a sterile abstraction; conversely, care provides the essential germination for the pursuit of true justice. To validate this theoretical crossover, the paper examines four landmark Indian movements: the historical Nupi Lan and Naga Mothers’ Association, and the contemporary Shaheen Bagh protests and #MeToo movement. Through these case studies, the article demonstrates that rebellion is not merely a political act, but a moral necessity born of care. It concludes that the impulse to revolt against systemic negligence is nurtured through an ontological commitment to those we care for, asserting that no meaningful rebellion is possible in the absence of a justice rooted in human interrelatedness.
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