How To Teach Moral Competence

How to Teach Moral Competence

What is moral competence? Can it be measured? Can it be taught effectively? If so, how? This book explores these questions from three perspectives: experimental psychology, curriculum development, and instructor training. Part one discusses the research from which, like a jig-saw puzzle, a comprehensive picture of the nature, development, and teachability of morality emerges. The picture focuses on moral competence, the ability to solve problems and conflicts on the basis of moral principles through deliberation and discussion rather than violence and deceit. Part two explains how moral competence can be taught effectively with the Konstanz Method of Dilemma Discussion (also known as Discussion Theater), which has been used with great success to foster moral development in schools and universities, military installations, prisons, and retirement communities in many countries. The book describes the Method, gives vivid illustrations of its use, and provides psychologists, teachers, and professional trainers with resources and guidance in its application. ``The definitive, research-based book on morality teaching with highly useful applications to educational practice. Highly recommended.'' Dr. Herbert Walberg, Emeritus Professor of Education and Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. ``We all want to be `good' Lind contends - it's part of our human inheritance. But being morally competent, he shows, is enhanced and nourished when educators develop propulsive learning opportunities for students to practice and develop.'' Dr. William Ayers, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education, University of Illinois at Chicago. ``Lind's mastery of the history and philosophy of morality and moral education is quite apparent. He writes of the complex issues bound up in morality in a beautifully clear and persuasive manner.'' Dr. Richard M. Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University. ``Dr. Lind's experimental and educational approach to morality is unique worldwide.'' Dr. Ewa Nowak, Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland. ``I really didn't think that one can discuss highly controversial issues in such a peaceful way. I learned a lot.'' A forty year old participant of a KMDD/DT session.

How to Teach Morality

The book: What is morality? How can it be measured? What is its nature and origin? And, most importantly, how can it be taught? These age-old yet still unanswered questions cannot be addressed, Lind argues, unless we develop a new science of moral behavior and education. Lind does just that in his book, invoking related contributions by eminent philosophers, psychologists and educators. The first part presents a new way of studying morality, and a great bulk of Lind's own research and other studies backing it. The second part shows how to teach morality effectively with Lind's Konstanz Method of Dilemma Discussion (KMDD), which is used in all ages and across cultures. On the basis of many years of practical international experience with the KMDD in different institutions of education, professional schools, armed forces and prisons, Lind provides advice on how educators can learn, implement and improve the method. Lind also presents the related Just Community method of democratic community building. The author: Born shortly after World War II, in 1947, Dr. Georg Lind's interest in morality goes back to his adolescence when he learned about the atrocities of the Nazi dictatorship: How can we prevent this from happening again? How can we develop morality, peace and democracy? This book contains his answer. Lind was professor of psychology and researcher at the University of Konstanz, Germany. He was guest professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Universidad de Monterrey, and the Humboldt University at Berlin. He lectured in Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Mexico, Poland, Switzerland, and the United States.

How to Teach Moral Competence