In this three-paper dissertation, I examine three seemingly unconnected historical philosophers--Locke, Cockburn, and Kant--on questions concerning moral knowledge, human nature, and moral development. In the first chapter, my focus is on Locke's peculiar claim that a demonstrative science of morality is possible, and I address an interpretive…

Past research on people's moral judgments about moral dilemmas has revealed a connection between utilitarian judgment and reflective cognitive style. This has traditionally been interpreted as reflection is conducive to utilitarianism. However, recent research shows that the connection between reflective cognitive style and utilitarian judgments…

Undergraduate students showed an increase in moral reasoning (DIT) after a semester-long course covering topics of advertising ethics, completing a new advertising ethics training program (CEAE), and engaging in activities that allowed for reflection. Students placed more importance on postconventional stages of moral reasoning over personal…

This research collected the voices of students in a UK university, better to understand their perception of their 'moral responsibility' as trainee early years educators. The UK Early Years Framework states that practitioners will instil in young children an understanding of what is 'right and wrong'. This is a formidable expectation in itself;…

Admiration is often described as having a singular motivational profile -- the disposition to imitate. This article provides a developmental assessment of admiration's action-potential, proposing a series of stages between (1) naïve imitation, a basic mimetic impulse, and (2) non-imitative virtuous actions. The process is marked by an increasing…

Flower Mound Elementary, a public school in the Lewisville Independent School District, believes it is a responsibility to educate the whole child. Their goal is to academically prepare young students and help them internalize moral values as well as build their character. To make this successful takes very different pedagogical strategies and…

Empirical research within science education settings tells us that there is a need for new curricular approaches in the teaching of complex and contentious science-based issues, such as climate change. A lot of science educational research looks at a need to teach students "functional scientific literacy" in that we are not just learning…

This paper reports from a symposium exploring the application of Virtual Reality (VR) in RE. The contributors presented empirical case-studies of interventions and instructional designs that had been tested in classroom settings ranging from primary to teacher education. The presentations illustrate the ways in which VR can be understood as a…

In this article, Aaron Zimmerman defines epistemological virtues as the manner in which knowledge and truth are discussed. For example, consider the following questions: (1) How does one judge whether or not something is true? (2) Who serves as the arbiter as to whether or not something is true? (3) What are the ethical implications of truth…

This study examines how secondary English teachers embed generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their curricula while preserving genuine student voice and promoting informed approaches to academic integrity. Data was gathered in three public high schools by way of classroom videos, teacher interviews, and student reflective journals. Analysis…

This paper considers the style of moral philosophy that emerged in the mid-1970s in the writings of John McDowell and David Wiggins and examines its implications for moral education. After characterising the position, I examine whether it broadens or narrows the horizons of moral philosophy. Though McDowell's notorious quietism might suggest the…

Within Orthodox Jewish early childhood programs, gender roles of the Shabbat Party promote heteronormative gender expectations that contend with values about children, teaching, and Judaism. Interviews with 15 educators suggested tensions between gender flexible attitudes and beliefs that gender unfolds naturally. Pretend play was considered a…

Despite a resurgence of interest in character education, just what 'character' means is contested. Two strands, while overlapping, diverge on several questions: Is character centrally about moral qualities or more inclusive? Does it consist of one or multiple traits? Does it regard virtue as independently or instrumentally good? Is character a set…

While long part of vocational and professional training, forms of practice-based education like Work-integrated learning (WIL) are now spreading to academic disciplines like Political Science. The pedagogical entailed in WIL is that student learning requires the theoretical knowledge and practice of both the classroom and the workplace, and…

Although peer-led focus groups are widely used in research with children and young people, surprisingly little has been written that evaluates their methodological appropriateness. Drawing on data from 10 peer-led focus group sessions across 5 international schools, this article demonstrates how focus group discussions around moral and social…